photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Helen Betts | all galleries >> Saudi Arabia: Life in the Desert >> Experiencing Old Diriyah > 'Modern' Saudi shopping complex
previous | next
08-AUG-2015

'Modern' Saudi shopping complex

This is a restaurant in a brand new shopping complex built within sight of the UNESCO site. The last time we were in Diriyah, the whole area was under construction, but this time there were several shops and eateries open and a number of locals walking around and checking everything out. Not that you can see them in this capture because technically I can't photograph them without their consent.

Old Diriyah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the original home of the Saudi royal family, a fascinating place to visit and only about a 10-minute drive from our house. We wanted to see if the UNESCO site was open yet as it had been undergoing restoration for several years. It was supposed to be finished in 2014, then April 2015, and now I think we’ll be lucky to see it before we leave Saudi Arabia in a year. But much work has been done, and the town seems to be reinventing itself in anticipation of a heavy flow of domestic tourists once the site is finished. I took this next series of pictures while walking around parts of the town (at the height of the afternoon heat, I must add!).

The front door to this restaurant, posted earlier:


Sony Cyber-shot RX1
1/500s f/11.0 at 35.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
share
Laura of Arabia 06-Oct-2015 12:22
I highly recommend you eat there, it's traditional Saudi food, served i your own "majlis" living room, where you sit and eat on the floor on carpets :) the food is excellent.
Julie Oldfield11-Aug-2015 02:56
Everything seems so devoid of humans. It does look like a beautiful place. V
hamery10-Aug-2015 07:55
Excellent composition and the pattern is so colorful and interesting, Helen. BV
Milan Vogrin09-Aug-2015 20:22
Interesting arhitecture.
Jim Coffman09-Aug-2015 20:21
I thought it was a fancy garage.. :) Nice looking place and a fine capture,Helen!
Zeeby09-Aug-2015 20:15
Very pretty shop! V
PauloCGama09-Aug-2015 18:21
Nicely composed. Well done, Helen.