Al Dirah (Riyadh)

ad-Dirah حي الديرة
Neighbourhood
Masmak Fort, 2014
Country	Saudi Arabia
City	Riyadh
Region	Old Riyadh
Government
• Body	Baladiyah al-Batha
Language
• Official	Arabic

Al-Dirah (Arabic: الديرة, romanized: al deira, lit. 'the abode'), pronounced as ad-Dirah and alternatively transliterated as Dheera, Deirah,^[1] Deerah or Deera, is a neighborhood in southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located south of al-Futah and west of Margab in the sub-municipality of al-Batʼha.^[2] Forming the kernel of the old city region, the northern part makes up the ruins of the extinct settlement of Duhairah meanwhile the remainder consists most of the Qasr al-Hukm District. It lies in the geographic center of the city's downtown neighborhoods, whereby its eastern strip partially forms part of the al-Batʼha commercial area.

Named after Deirah markets,^[3] it is today a popular tourist attraction as it hosts several historical and traditional landmarks, such as the Justice Palace (Qasr al-Hukm),^[4][5] al-Masmak Fort,^[6][7] and Deera Square. The origins of the neighborhood can be traced back to 1737 when Deham bin Dawas al-Shalaan took over Riyadh.

In popular culture

• Baby (2015), a fictional city in Saudi Arabia named Al Dera that hosts the Chop Chop Square.

References