Al Faisaliah Complex is a urban development, the 240, 000 square metres. The building is centred around Saudi Arabia’s first skyscraper-267 metre high office tower, alongside a five star hotel, a banqueting and conference center, luxury apartments and three-story retail mall.

At the middle of the complex is the office tower. Square in plan, the building is designed around a compact central core which tapers to a point, with four main corner columns defining its unique silhouette. Punctuating stages up the building’s layered facade, observation decks correspond with giant K-braces, which transfer loads to the corner columns.

Each section between these decks is clad in silver- anodised aluminium panels with cantilevered sun-shading, which minimise glare, allowing the use of non-reflective, energy-efficient glass and providing maximum control over the internal environment. Above its 30 floors of office space, the tower houses a restaurant set within a golden glass sphere 200 metres above ground level. The observation deck below this globe provides a breathtaking panorama of Riyadh and the surrounding landscape, while above it, at the building’s pinnacle, the tower narrows to a brightly lit lantern, topped by a stainless-steel finial.

The owner is King Faisal Foundation and the architects are Buro Happold, Brian Clarke, Sandy Brown.

Long stretches of coast and spectacular coral reefs make water sports such as snorkeling and wind surfing easily accessible. In addition, the Kingdom has established a network of national parks and preserves so that visitors can observe protected wildlife and ecosystems. Saudis enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. Families can relax at hundreds of parks, campsites, picnic grounds and other facilities throughout the country.

This recreational center for kids is located in the diplomatic area of Riyadh. It is famous for its theatrical activities in which kids can participate and showcase their talent. Besides this, there is swimming, tennis and karate. There is also a toy shop and special meals are served to kids.
Three grassy 9-hole golf courses, one 27-hole desert course and about ten 18-hole desert courses exist in the Kingdom. And more than half of them have been developed in the past eight years, indicating that golf is on the up- swing in Saudi Arabia. By mid-summer of 1998, Riyadh will have another 9-hole grass course and its first 18-hole grass course. In the Eastern Province, plans are underway to develop that region’s first 9-hole grass course.

Mecca is a holy city, and non-Muslims are not permitted to enter it. But for Muslims the pilgrimage to Mecca, or the hajj, is one of the basic tenets of the religion. Each year, over 1,000,000 people visit during the month of pilgrimage. The core of Mecca, including the commercial district, surrounds the al-Haram or Great Mosque, which can hold 300,000 people. Inside the mosque, the Kaaba (a shrine enclosing a sacred Black Stone) and the well of Zamzam are located. They are the focus of the pilgrimage.

The main economic activity in Mecca is the provision of services to pilgrims. Merchants in particular benefit from the trade of travelers, as huge fairs are held during the month of the pilgrimage. Because of the yearly influx of visitors, the city’s transportation network is well developed. Mecca is connected to Jidda and Riyadh by road, and the airport at Jidda serves Mecca.

Even before Muhammad’s birth , the city was an important commercial and religious center the Black Stone was sacred in early Arabic religions). Muhammad began to preach in the city c.613 but was forced to flee to Medina in 622 (the Hegira). In 630 he returned with 10,000 men to conquer the city and establish it as the center of the Islamic world. The city was ruled by the Carmathians from 930 until 1269, when the Egyptian Mamelukes gained control.

The Ottoman Turks ruled from 1517 until 1916, when the Hejaz region became independent, with Mecca as its capital. Mecca fell to Ibn Saud in 1924, and in 1932 Hejaz became a province of Saudi Arabia. In November 1979 a group of 200 Muslim zealots seized Mecca’s Great Mosque; they were driven out by Saudi troops after 10 days, and many were executed. In 1987, Iranian pilgrims staged violent demonstrations in the city.

The Ka’ba is believed to be the first place that was created on earth and the place at which heavenly bliss and power touches the earth directly.Mecca is located in the Hijaz region of western Saudi Arabia. The city lies inland 73 kilometers east of Jiddah, in the narrow, sandy Valley of Abraham. The Holy City is 277 meters (909 feet) above sea level.

Each year, thousands of Muslims from around the world join in a pilgrimage to Mecca, in fulfillment of one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

In addition, a pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim who can afford it as one of the Five Pillars of the faith. Every year about three million gather for the major pilgrimage, or Hajj, during the Muslim month of Dhu’l-Hijja, and many more perform the minor pilgrimage, or Umrah, at various times throughout the year.