Diplomatic Quarter حي السفارات
Neighbourhood
A view of Riyadh from the Diplomatic Quarter
Diplomatic Quarter
Coordinates: 24°40′52″N 46°37′22″E / 24.68111°N 46.62278°E / 24.68111; 46.62278
Country	Saudi Arabia
City	Riyadh
Established	1978 (1978)
Founded by	Salman bin Abdulaziz
Government
• Body	Royal Commission for Riyadh City
Language
• Official	Arabic
PIN	12511-4

The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) (Arabic: حي السفارات, romanized: Hayy as-Safarat, lit. 'embassies neighborhood'), also known by its Arabic name as-Safarat, is a diplomatic enclave and an affluent residential district in northwestern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, situated in close proximity to Irqah. Established in 1978, it covers an area of 800 hectares and hosts most of the foreign embassies and some of the government departments in the city besides being a popular tourist attraction.^[1] It was administered as part of the Irqah Sub-Municipality until 2018 when the district's responsibility was placed under the newly created Diplomatic Quarter General Authority (DQGA).^[2] In 2021, the authority was dissolved and subsequently Diplomatic Quarter became an independent neighbourhood.

History

The Diplomatic Quarter was established on November 25, 1975, through a Council of Ministers resolution during the reign of King Khalid upon the relocation of the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Jeddah to Riyadh. It was the brainchild of Riyadh's then governor Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud.^[3] It was built between 1978 and 1982. On 27 November 2018, a royal decree issued by King Salman instructed the creation of the Diplomatic Quarter Authority^[4] which would be independent of Riyadh Municipality's Irqah Sub-Municipality and would be responsible for the administration of the district. In February 2021, the authority was abolished and its administration was transferred to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.^[5]

Landmarks

• Tuwaiq Palace^[6]
• Oud Square

References