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The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Ritz-Carlton · Grand Luxury
Opened in 2011 across 52 acres of Diplomatic Quarter grounds planted with Lebanese olive trees said to be six centuries old, this palace-scale Ritz-Carlton hosted Barack Obama in 2014 and Donald Trump for the 2017 Riyadh summit. From November 2017 to February 2018 it closed to guests and became the gilded detention site of Saudi Arabia's anti-corruption purge, then reopened after the arrests ended.
- 493 rooms
- Opened 2011
- Neighborhood: Al Hada
- Rooms from 463 sq ft (43 m²)
- Architect: Al Rasheed Engineering Company
About The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
- The closure began specifically on November 4, 2017.
- Trump also returned for an overnight stop in May 2025.
- In October 2017 it hosted the Future Investment Initiative with more than 3,500 invitees.
- Al Rasheed Engineering designed the palace-inspired complex on Makkah Al Mukarramah Road beside the Diplomatic Quarter.
- Forbes Travel Guide rates it Five-Star; dining includes Al Orjouan and Azzurro.
History
Opened in 2011 in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, modeled on traditional palaces and Arabian residences. Spans 52 acres of landscaped gardens with native palms, 600-year-old olive trees from Lebanon, and fountains. Briefly used as a detention center during the 2017 Saudi Arabian anti-corruption purge.
The setting
The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh unfolds across 52 acres of palace-inspired grounds on Makkah Al Mukarramah Road in the Al Hada district, adjacent to Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter — the capital's most exclusive enclave of embassy compounds and manicured boulevards. Six-hundred-year-old olive trees and cascading fountains set an atmosphere of sovereign calm found nowhere else in the city. The VIA Riyadh lifestyle destination, with designer boutiques and acclaimed restaurants, opened in 2023 on the property's doorstep, while a cluster of landmark luxury hotels within 500 metres confirms Al Hada's status as Riyadh's most coveted luxury precinct, defined by seclusion, diplomatic prestige, and immaculate landscaped grounds. 9 km from Al Faisaliyah Center.
Restaurants and bars
- Al Orjouan — Restaurant
- Azzurro — Restaurant · Italian
Experiences
- Weddings at the hotel — Wedding venues in lush gardens (52 acres) and palace-inspired architecture, with two grand ballrooms and a bridal suite.
- Meetings and conferences in ballrooms, boardrooms and meeting rooms — Conference space of 5962 SQ MT with boardrooms, ballrooms and meeting rooms for events up to 1,000 guests; 10 event rooms and 6 breakout rooms.
Amenities
- spa
- fitness center
- indoor pool
- hot tub
- bowling alley
- 62,000 sq ft event space
- landscaped gardens
- Sauna
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- Green Key Certified
- Michelin Guide Hotel
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- Aman Wadi Safar — Aman · High Luxury
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