Riyadh: Around the DQ Photo Gallery by Helen Betts at pbase.com

Riyadh: Around the DQ

The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) is a large expatriate compound in Riyadh. It houses diplomatic missions as well as their personnel along with other expats and Saudis. "The Diplomatic Quarter or DQ as it is popularly known, is home to foreign embassies, international organizations as well as residences and malls. With lush gardens and numerous sports facilities, it is also one of the city's greenest areas. It is especially known for its fine architecture, and is considered a model for other Islamic cities around the world." (Wikimapia)

The DQ in Riyadh is a pleasant place to live (at least parts of it are), but I have noticed an almost total lack of people except for an abundance of immigrant laborers who work on the many construction projects currently ongoing. I haven't yet figured out where the residents of the quarter are -- maybe staying indoors in the heat and coming out only in the cooler evening breezes. It's an interesting landscape, with very developed, highly populated areas and sandy wastelands awaiting development right next door.

An interesting take on the DQ is here http://trueslant.com/nathandeuel/2010/02/18/living-in-riyadhs-ghost-town/

The first adventure	Return to her roots	:: Al-Kindi Plaza ::	A splash of color and a water dilemma
Saudia Airlines building	Housing boom (6)	Ornate window	Minaret under construction
:: The Abaya Fashionista ::	A desert flower	Discovery	Smile for the camera!
:: Housing Boom around the DQ ::	:: Oasis in the DQ: Hajer Garden ::	DQ denizen	Embassy
Last rays	:: Mosques in the DQ ::	Unusual architecture	Al Sheeh Garden shadows
Al Sheeh Garden, patterned shadows	Wasteland beyond	Al Sheeh Garden, shadowed seating	Al Sheeh Garden
Palm-treed	Quiet corner	Brilliant bougainvillea	Which embassy?
Rock garden scene	Protected	Flowers in the desert	Trellis
The lookout	Riyadh from the DQ (1)	Riyadh from the DQ (2)	Riyadh from the DQ (3)
The Arabian sun	Visitor	Corner of B&D	Waiting for conversation
Graceful door	The sky is falling... (1)	The sky is falling... (2)	The sky is falling... (3)
The wadi (1)	The wadi (2)	The wadi (3)	The wadi (4)
The wadi (5)	The wadi (6)	The wadi (7)	Home delivery
So near yet so far	All the comforts of home	The blue window	Ambassador from the Land of Dog
In good hands	Rainwater	Men only entry	Women only entry
Floor plan for men and women	Nice pitch but nobody to use it	Light at the end	Light and shadow
'Oasis for women'	Cat behind bars	Al Aarrudh Garden	Al Aarrudh Garden
Window of opportunity	Late afternoon shadows	Friday nights on the DQ	Desert harvest
Our new tenants	Watching	Watching me watching you	Again the dragonfly
DQ denizen	A place for contemplation	Green space	Night view
:: Al Khozama Garden in Riyadh's DQ ::	Home sweet home	More home sweet home	Dark park (Al Nafel Garden)
:: Park Land: Riyadh's DQ ::	From one extreme to the other	Reverse view	Screen door visitor (1)
Screen door visitor (2)	Weather flash!	:: Contemporary Saudi Architecture: Al Fazari Plaza ::	Ghost town
The cat in the tree	The emptiness of the DQ	A real oasis in the desert	Different kind of palm grove
The old fishing and swimming hole	BBQ duplex	Textured	Garden reflections
:: The 'Wild Area' on Riyadh's DQ ::	One very large house...	...and its very large garden	...and its very long front wall
Chickens in the DQ?	I see you!	New neighbor	Frosted view
A family!	Al-Kindi Plaza	Water tower view	Fountain at Al-Kindi
Waiting for tenants, and electricity	Under way, but for what?	Next door neighbor (1)	Next door neighbor (2)
Flowering palm or frondy bougainvillea	Quiet fountain at Al-Kindi	Waterfall windows, Palace of Culture	Embassy mosque
Embassy bazaar	Sunset on the DQ	Shadows	Bougainvillea and dumpster
Prayer time	Fire, too close for comfort	She's back!	Rarity
Clouds again!	Tuwaiq Palace	Hint of the wadi at Tuwaiq	Fortress across the 'Wild Area'
Fit for a prince	Attractive embassy	Two new villas	The end result: a baby!
The permanence of the palm	Just the start of it	Till we meet again	Squeezing the last pieces in
Destination: Baltimore, USA	Lights out on the DQ

Hennie & Lies Lammers		09-Oct-2016 08:25
great gallery, gives a good impression of this country!

Regine L.		16-Nov-2015 00:31
The hen forgot to wear her abaya. Did you get permission to take this candid shot? Nice image.

carabias		15-Nov-2015 19:59
A beautiful gallery, magnificent Helen! BV

victorswan		28-Aug-2015 17:30
Fascinating description of a very unusual area. Helen it looks very nice place VV

barbarajoy		16-Nov-2014 23:01
Excellent images here. Most interesting following the story of life there. Keep these superb images coming, Helen. V

Zeeby		06-Dec-2013 07:46
A superb gallery. V

woody34		05-Dec-2013 23:36
Such a fascinating collection, you always seem to be in the most interesting of places..enjoying every image...V

Richard Calmes		02-Dec-2013 15:51
Excellent images of a very interesting place!

carlogalliani		02-Dec-2013 12:49
Excellent gallery ! Great work !

Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)		01-Dec-2013 07:16
Excellent images Helen,congrats! V Paolo

John Hamers		29-Nov-2013 17:43
Great diverse gallery Helen with a lot of beautiful shots in a country most of us will not come !!V

Stephanie		26-Nov-2013 13:28
Super gallery Helen! I'm enjoying the images of Riyadh so much! BV

Guest		25-Nov-2013 08:51
Through your eyes and camera it is a great pleasure to make a trip trough foreigh countnries. And thanks, Helen, for the explanations; they make the trip more interesting!

Jeff Real		23-Nov-2013 13:45
These are all really beautiful images ~V~

gardener		23-Nov-2013 09:12
Fascinating description of a very unusual area. Peter

barbarajoy		08-Nov-2013 03:06
Wonderful, and so informative.

Tom LeRoy		06-Nov-2013 10:40
So nice to be able to see and follow your postings of your life in the desert. Thanks for sharing these unique and excellent images! V

Regine L.		03-Nov-2013 23:27
Your smaller camera still produces outstanding pictures. Fantastic work.

Ali Majdfar		03-Nov-2013 23:09
Thanks for sharing these rarely findable scenes! ~V

Bart Aldrich		02-Nov-2013 15:11
An enlightening glimpse into another world! V

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