Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Saudi Arabia?
Riyadh
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. About 7.7 million people live in the Riyadh urban area — 20.8% of the country's population.
7.7 million
Urban area population
UTC+3
Time zone
24.65°N
Latitude · 46.70°E
Yes
Largest city
Riyadh at a glance
Name origin
The name derives from the Arabic word riyadh, meaning "gardens;" the city was built around a small oasis.
Time zone
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
24 39 N, 46 42 E · IANA time zone Asia/Riyadh
Location of Saudi Arabia
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Largest cities in Saudi Arabia
1
Riyadh Capital
7.7 million2
Jeddah
4.9 million3
Mecca
2.2 million4
Medina
1.6 million5
Ad Dammam
1.3 million6
Hufuf-Mubarraz
872.00 billionUrban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Amman, Jordan — 1,329 kmCapitals closest to Riyadh
Manama, Bahrain — 426 km
Doha, Qatar — 492 km
Kuwait City, Kuwait — 539 km
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — 776 km
Baghdad, Iraq — 991 km
Sanaa, Yemen — 1,066 km
Muscat, Oman — 1,211 km
Tehran, Iran — 1,309 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Riyadh
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
The capital of Saudi Arabia is Riyadh. About 7.7 million people live in the Riyadh urban area — 20.8% of the country's population.
Is Riyadh the largest city in Saudi Arabia?
Yes — Riyadh is also the largest urban area of Saudi Arabia (7.7 million).
What time zone is Riyadh in?
Riyadh is on UTC+3 — UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Riyadh come from?
The name derives from the Arabic word riyadh, meaning "gardens;" the city was built around a small oasis.
Which capital is closest to Riyadh?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Doha (Qatar) is the closest, 492 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).