Timeline of Riyadh

Prior to 20th century

1746 - Riyadh established by Dahham bin Dawwas.

1823 - Riyadh becomes capital of Emirate of Nejd.

1865 - Masmak fort built (approximate date).

20th century

1902 - Battle of Riyadh.

1910 - Population: 14,000.

1919 - Royal family relocates to Riyadh.

1929 - Muhammad bin Saad bin Zaid becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

1930 - Population: 27,000.

1932 - Riyadh becomes capital of Saudi Arabia.

1937

Murabba' Palace built.

Nasser bin Abdulaziz becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

1947

Shabab AlRiyadh football club formed.

Sultan bin Abdulaziz becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

1950

Saudi Library established.

City wall dismantled.

Population: 83,000.

1951 - Railway begins operating (to eastern coast).

1952 - Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

1953 - Airport opens.

1954 - Salman bin Abdul-Aziz becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

1955 - Al Nassr FC formed.

1957

Riyadh University opens.

Al-Tarbiyah Al-Namouthajiyah Schools established.

Olympic Club and Al-Hilal (basketball) club formed.

Turki bin Abdul-Aziz becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

Annasriyyah royal residential district built.

1961

Fawwaz bin Abdulaziz Al Saud becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

Institute of Public Administration established.

1963

Badr bin Saud bin Abdulaziz becomes governor of Riyadh Province, succeeded by Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

American International School established.

1965 - Al Riyadh newspaper begins publication.

1968

Population: 281,260.

Pakistan International School and Dar al-Kutub al-Watani'yah (library) established.

1970

Riyadh University for Women founded.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital cornerstone laid.

1972 - World Assembly of Muslim Youth founded.

1974 - Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University established.

1975

25 March: King Faisal assassinated.

18 June: Faisal bin Musaid beheaded at Dira Square.

1976

Population: 598,239.

City hosts Arab League summit.

1977 - Saudi Arabian National Center for Science & Technology established.

1978 - Riyadh TV Tower built.

1979 - British International School established.

1981 - King Fahd Road laid out.

1982

King Khalid International Airport opens.

Indian Embassy School founded.

1983 - King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and Riyadh College of Technology established.

1985 - Tuwaiq Palace built.

1987

Rotana Group in business.

Population: 1,417,000.

King Fahd International Stadium built.

1990

King Fahd National Library, Bangladesh International School, English Section and Prince Salman Center for Disability Research founded.

Women protest driving ban.

1995 - Masmak fort museum opens.

1997

Population: 3,100,000.

Wadi Laban Bridge constructed.

1998 - New Middle East International School established.

1999

National Museum of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Private College, and Royal Saudi Air Force Museum established.

King Abdulaziz Public Library opens.

2000s

2000 - Al Faisaliyah Center built.

2001

Al-Yamamah College established.

Wadi Hanifah bioremediation begins.

Population: 4,137,000.

2002

Al Mamlaka Tower built.

Sahara Plaza shopping mall built.

2003 - May: Bombings.

2004

Al Ekhbariya television begins broadcasting.

Delta International School founded.

2005

Burj Al Anoud built.

King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences established.

2006 - Riyadh International Book Fair begins.

2007 - Alfaisal University opens.

2009 - March: Sandstorm.

2010s

2010 - Population: 5,254,560.

2011

May: Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud becomes governor of Riyadh Province.

October: Funeral of Sultan bin Abdulaziz.

2012

Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al Mogbel becomes mayor.

November: Truck crash.

2013

Mohammed bin Nayef Centre opens.[1]

Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia in business.

2014 - Air pollution in Riyadh reaches annual mean of 156 PM2.5 and 368 PM10, much higher than recommended.