Amazing places
Shopping in Riyadh
The vibrant capital city of Riyadh is packed with ultra modern, air conditioned shopping malls, selling everything from well known western brands to local and regional products - from local oud and plump dates to sweet mountain honey and sheesha equipment.
If you know where to go, you can shop like a local and find incredible bargains and fresh edible treats - from local fish, fruit,= and vegetable markets, furniture and luxury items at a fraction of the cost at bigger stores.
Explore the hustle and bustle of the many traditional souqs and old districts that specialise in specific products - from gold jewelry and precious stones to beds to kitchens to cheap customised tailoring services. The many local "High Street" districts are thriving in Riyadh and exciting places to visit, especially at night, most retailers and traders are open until 11pm!
Parking in Riyadh is also free, which brings in trade, a few lessons to learn here in the UK, where our High Streets are slowly becoming too expensive to visit and losing out to online shopping!
Popular destinations
Awesome, lively capital city with jaw-dropping architecture and culture, alive with street culture 24/7
Served by the excellent modern King Khaled International Airport and easy road transport links, including a brand new above ground metro (opening soon!) the cosmopolitan capital city of Riyadh offers the best in international hotels, restaurants, malls and rich history, surrounded by excellent places to visit - from easily reachable orange desert dunes and forts, the historical district old city of Diriyah to lively Riyadh Season events and concerts, Riyadh is a must see for all age groups!
Riyadh Fresh Fruit, Vegetable, Chicken and Fish Market
A visit to the central Riyadh fish, chicken and fresh fruit and vegetable market is high up on the agenda.
Here, the freshest fish, fruit, vegetables and chicken can be found at a fraction of hyper-market prices.
Choose the fish and quantity you want, the locals do the rest - prepare and cook it, if required, and you can eat in-house or take away and freeze.
The freshest fruit and vegetables I've ever seen, sweetest mangos from Yemen, sweet Egyptian strawberries and enormous range of salad vegetables and cool melons can all be found here in abundance. This is the place where bartering to agree a price and volume is expected - E.g. expect to pay around 20-25 SAR (around a fiver) for a huge box of sweet, juicy figs, absolute bargain compared to the UK!
Buy big boxes of fresh oranges, make your own orange juice at a fraction of the cost of pre-made juice in the supermarkets.
The market even has its own delivery teams, who will wheel your produce to your car for no charge, or a small tip.
Car Repair & Maintenance
This district in the Eastern district of Riyadh is packed full of garage services and spare part main dealer stockists.
No need to book weeks in advance, as in the UK, the mechanics wait outside their workshops for custom, then get straight on with it!
From servicing, to engine and major overhauls, the capability lies within this district.
Drive around, get the best quote, following a free inspection, agree a firm price (haggle a bit!) then leave the vehicle in their skilled, capable hands while you do a bit of shopping, or pop to the nearby fish market and enjoy a fresh fish meal.
There is no messing about here with appointments, fixed prices, everything is agreed upfront and on the spot - work generally starts as soon as you get any parts from the neary by part dealers. It helps to speak a little Arabic or take a local with you - to ensure you get the best price and both parties understand what will be done.