The glittering city of Riyadh, situated high upon a desert plateau, is Saudi Arabia’s political and business capital as well as one of the most affluent cities in the modern world. What was once a tiny desert oasis in the heart of the Arab world is now a major metropolis booming with industry, luxury hotels, and vast upmarket shopping centres lined with high-end designer boutiques and world-class restaurants. Ancient mosques lie alongside the imposing state-of-the-art skyscrapers, and shady trees and date palms line the avenues. Spend your days visiting the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, where you can explore the city’s rich Arabian heritage. Whiz up a high-speed elevator to the top of the Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge, where you can see breathtaking views of the city and beyond, or ride a camel into the desert where you can interact with some famously friendly nomadic Bedouins.