The Saudis love museums...
...and it seems that along with their obsession for all things educational, anything that can possibly be shown off in the comforts of an air-conditioned building will sooner of later end up on display in a glass case.

Riyadh’s museums are many and varied and as often as not, exhibits are labelled in both Arabic and English. But for the casual visitor to the Saudi capital, your biggest problem could be in locating a particular museum in the first place; and after that, persuading security or reception to let you in!

Not unsurprisingly, most museum aficionados head first to the National Museum, located in the centre of Murabba Park, as one of the cornerstones of the King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre. For SR15 ($2.50) you can lose yourself for a whole day in the eight galleries which tell the story of Saudi Arabia from the earliest of times up to the present day. You will be hard pressed to do the museum full justice in just one visit, but it should certainly be on everybody’s itinerary when they visit Riyadh.

It is the largest, and without doubt, the most important museum in the whole of the Kingdom and its impressive curved frontage looks out onto a babbling spring that trickles over boulders of basalt which were transported from the north of the country.

Unsurprisingly there is a large gallery which tells you everything you could possibly want to know about the life and mission of the Prophet Mohammad from the day of his birth until his journey to Madinah – the event that marks the beginning of the Hijrah calendar. There is also a great deal about the unification of the country under King Abdul Aziz bin Saud.

Of course, if it’s the history of the country which interests you, you simply cannot miss going to the Musmak Fortress. This is where the official history of Saudi Arabia starts from – the stronghold that Abdul Aziz captured in January 1902 leading to the eventual foundation of the Kingdom 30 years later.

The fort is a wonderful example of mud and brick architecture with crenulated towers, triangular windows and traditionally decorated doors and ceilings. Considering its importance to the history of the Kingdom, it is not very well signposted; nor does it appear on many maps of the city. But it can be found in the Qasr al Hokum area right by the headquarters of the Muttawah (religious police) - otherwise known as the Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

In the newer part of town are two more museums which should definitely be on any visitor’s itinerary. Inside the King Fahd Library on King Fahd Highway, just south of the Al Faisaliah Tower, is a museum that is dedicated to the preservation of around 300 rare manuscripts and about 10,000 rare books. There is also a small collection of coins from across the Middle East and engraved stonework from the Hijjaz. Amongst the many books are copies of the Qur’an from India and Pakistan, and a Kufi copy which dates back to the third Hijrah century, and which is written on leather. Although it is located on the second floor of the building, it would appear that some of the receptionists are not aware of its existence, so it pays to be tenacious!

Just up the road from there inside the Faisal Foundation Building is a very interesting gallery all about the life and times of the late King Faisal containing many artefacts that belonged to him. Here you will find some of his swords and pistols, a mass of ceremonial keys and various medals of honour awarded to him. Signed photographs from statesmen of his era – including Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, U Thant, Nehru, Emperor Hirohito and others – make an interesting display in one of the upstairs rooms, and there are fascinating items such as his first passport issued in Makkah in 1926, which lists his occupation as ‘Viceroy in Hedjaz’. There is also a poignant corner devoted to his assassination which includes some of the items found in his pockets after he was shot.

Anyone planning to visit the Ibex Reserve or the King Khaled Wildlife Research Centre will need to go to the head office of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation, near to Shimaisi Hospital, for permits. Here there is a visitors’ centre which has a collection of stuffed animals and birds that are native to the region. Basically, if it flies, crawls, swims or burrows anywhere in the kingdom, there’s a good chance it will have been stuffed here and put on display! Indeed, this might be the nearest many visitors will ever get to an Ibex, an Oryx, a Dhab or a Steppe Eagle.

One of the largest – if not the largest – collection of contemporary Saudi art in the world is housed in one of Riyadh’s most beautifully designed hospital complexes. The Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City is a 400-bed Rehabilitation Hospital 30kms north of Riyadh on the Qassim Highway.

Throughout the complex, in corridors, offices, waiting areas and almost anywhere there is wall space, is a plethora of pictures in oils, pastels and sketches showing off the very best of contemporary Saudi artistic talent.

One of Riyadh’s most enjoyable, but least known, museums is situated on the eastern ring road near junction 10. Put together by the Royal Saudi Air Force, with help from defence firm BAE Systems, the Saqr al Jazeera is a museum dedicated to over 75 years of Saudi aviation. It contains a mixture of models and real aircraft including a number of planes previously in use by the Royal Saudi Air Force – together with aviation equipment; and its prized possession is the now fully restored Dakota DC3 presented to King Abdul Aziz by President Roosevelt and on which visitors are allowed to climb aboard and see how royalty travelled in the early years of Saudi air travel.

It is literally a museum with something for everyone including a ‘white-knuckle ride’ near the exit where you are invited to travel into space on a simulator which throws you about with gay abandon as you navigate black holes and avoid a few passing asteroids!