Al Yamamah Hotel (Arabic: فندق اليمامة) was a historic five-star hotel in the al-Malazz neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[1] Completed in 1958, it was the largest hotel at the time of its completion and one of the earliest hotels constructed in the city, often frequented by writers, ministers, poets, members of the Saudi royal family as well as foreign dignitaries during state visits, such as Henry Kissinger and King Faisal II. The hotel was locally known for hosting weddings for several elites. It was demolished in 2017 and was named after the al-Yamama region of central Arabia.[2]

Al Yamamah Hotel
فندق اليمامة
Map
General information
LocationRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates24°39′54″N 46°43′9″E / 24.66500°N 46.71917°E / 24.66500; 46.71917
Named forAl Yamama
Inaugurated17 November 1958
DemolishedJuly 2017
Design and construction
Main contractorSaudi Binladin Group

Overview

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The construction of the hotel was built by Sheikh Eid bin Salem and inaugurated in 1956 by King Saud bin Abdulaziz. It was completed in November 1958[3] and was one of the earliest hotels built in Riyadh.[4][5] The hotel was regarded one of the most luxurious in the city[6] and was the largest one at the time of its completion.[7]

The hotel was located in close proximity to the Riyadh International Airport and has hosted several foreign dignitaries during state visits, such as King Faisal II of Iraq in 1957 and then-US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973.[8][9]

By late 1990s, the hotel became affordable to middle-class families who could organize wedding parties within its premises.[3] The hotel was demolished in 2017.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ الدعوة :مجلة إسلامية اسبوعية جامعة (in Arabic). مؤسسة الدعوة الإسلامية الصحفية،. 1992.
  2. ^ "فندق اليمامة يرحل إلى ذاكرة أهالي الرياض وزوارها". aawsat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  3. ^ a b "فندق اليمامة.. ملتقى "الكبارية" وضيوف الدولة". www.alriyadh.com. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ الخضير, محمد بن إبراهيم (2020). رحلة بين قرنين (in Arabic). العبيكان للنشر. ISBN 978-603-03-3412-4.
  5. ^ خميس, أميمة (2006). البحريات (in Arabic). دار المدى للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع. ISBN 978-2-84305-833-2.
  6. ^ اليمامة (in Arabic). al-Mamlakah al-ʻArabīyah al-Saʻūdīyah, Muåssasat al-Yamāmah al-Sạhạfīyah. 2008.
  7. ^ Ṭanṭāwī, ʻAlī (1985). Dhikrayāt (in Arabic). Dār al-Manārah.
  8. ^ فيصل, حسون،; Ḥassūn, Fayṣal (2001). شهادات في هوامش التاريخ: أحداث سياسية (in Arabic). دار الوراق،. ISBN 978-1-900700-10-8.
  9. ^ okaz_online@, «عكاظ» (الرياض) (2017-07-31). "زحف فنادق الـ 5 نجوم يحيل "اليمامة" نُزل المشاهير.. ركاماً". Okaz (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  10. ^ "رحيل فندق اليمامة! - سمر المقرن". www.al-jazirah.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ الحربي, عيسى (2017-07-29). "شاهد.. رحيل فندق اليمامة بالرياض بعد 62 عامًا من افتتاح الملك سعود". صحيفة سبق الالكترونية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-07-13.