Al
Samhan is one of the most prominent historic mud-brick districts in historic Diriyah, capital of the First Saudi State, and contains 36 heritage buildings ranging from one to two stories. The district sits on a triangular plateau overlooking Wadi Hanifah at the confluence of the Qurayan Imran tributary, which gave it great strategic importance across the centuries. Historical Significance Samhan was a seat of government after Imam Muhammad bin Saud moved there from the Ghusaybah district. During the siege of Diriyah in 1233 AH / 1818 CE, Imam Abdullah bin Saud used the district as a defensive base. The district overlooks several prominent districts such as Al Qusayrin, Al Murayih and At-Turaif, which strengthened its standing as a strategic stronghold at the time. Restoration and Rehabilitation In 2013, the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities (as it was then) launched an extensive project to restore and rehabilitate the district. The project included historical, architectural and environmental studies, as well as clearing rubble and rebuilding collapsed buildings using the original building materials. The aim was to turn the district into a living heritage destination reflecting the spirit of old Diriyah. Bab Samhan Project Under the umbrella of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Cultural Heritage, Samhan was transformed into an integrated heritage hospitality project. In 2015, King Salman bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone of the Samhan Heritage
حمّل تطبيق دليل السعودية