Kingdom Centre Tower

The Kingdom Centre rises 302 metres on King Fahd Road, completed in 2002, and its form is the reason it is recognisable: the tower splits near the top into two legs with an inverted parabolic opening between them, spanned at the summit by a sky bridge of around sixty-five metres. The bridge is glazed on both sides and open to visitors, giving a view over Riyadh in every direction, best at dusk when the city lights come on and the desert edge is still visible. Below are a shopping mall, a hotel and offices. The 99-storey tower was developed by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal to a design by Ellerbe Becket and Omrania, and on completion it overtook the Faisaliah Tower as the tallest building in the country. It is the standard viewpoint over the city.

What's there

• The sky bridge - the glazed span across the top of the tower.
• The Riyadh view - the city and the desert edge from 300 metres.
• The inverted arch - the opening in the tower seen from outside.
• The mall below - the retail levels at the base.

When to go

November to March for the clearest air; dust haze is common in spring. Dusk gives the best light and is the busiest time on the bridge. Booking a slot in advance avoids queues.

Good to know

The bridge is narrow and gets crowded at sunset. Tickets sell out for the best time slots. Riyadh air is often hazy with dust, which limits the view. The visit is short.

Nearby

Olaya district surrounds it; Masmak fortress lies southeast.

Key facts