In January 2017, the DQ Living Magazine was born out of sheer will and passion to showcase a place in Riyadh known as a “small city within a city” and to bring more information to this place’s residents and visitors. Five years later, the DQ Living Magazine is still as relevant as ever and the DQ is still one of the most sought-after addresses in the city with its award-winning architectural structures, lush landscapes and gardens, and new developments.
The Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) is located in an ideal area in northwest Riyadh. Bordered by the Wadi Hanifa in the west, Salboukh in the east and the Makkah highway in the south, the DQ is a project initiated by then Governor of Riyadh H.R.H. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and carried out by the Arriyadh Development Authority (now the Royal Commission of Riyadh City) to accommodate foreign embassies and diplomatic missions, and KSA-based regional and international organizations. They aimed to develop a world-class neighborhood equipped with necessary urban infrastructure integrated with Riyadh’s progressive plan and strategy during a time when many other major government projects were being implemented.
Over five years of organization, planning, construction, and development saw the eight square kilometers of rocky, barren desert plateau turn into the DQ. Using the natural curves and slopes of the area and keeping in mind environmental sustainability, the DQ’s design integrated traditional elements and modern components to become what it is today: an oasis for people who call it home.
Even with the developments and changes carried out in the DQ over the years, the place still reflects the traditional Arab city plan it was based on: a central complex that comprises a community center, a mosque, and souks. The overall building design in the DQ was inspired by HRH King Salman, who gave Riyadh’s architecture and design a traditional, yet new soul. What is known to many as the “Salmani Style” is an approach that embodies an awareness of the past, a celebration of the present and a thought for an unknown yet exciting future. King Salman firmly believed in the combination of Riyadh’s glorious past and bold aspirations that come together to form a cohesive and authentic identity. This has lent vitality and flexibility to the capital’s overall look.
The residential areas inside the DQ also have traditional patterns that blend seamlessly with their surroundings. The DQ has won numerous awards for its layout and design: the Arab Cities Award for Architecture in 1990 for being the best architectural project built in an Arab city in a style that reinforces the credibility of Islamic Arab architecture and the Agha Khan Award for Architecture in 1989 and 1998 for being a realistic and highly innovative, as well as a self-sustaining, project.
The Diplomatic Quarter has successfully reinforced the concept of an “oasis”. And truly it has continued to be so with the latest developments and additions to the place. In July 2021, HE Fahd Bin Abdulmohsen Bin Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) appointed Mr. Noble Coker as the DQ Steward. Mr. Coker has invited DQ residents and guests to a journey of discovering the DQ, which he describes as a “community that encompasses the world”.
Several DQ-based public services include educational facilities like the King Faisal School Complex, a premier school in Saudi Arabia that provides a well-rounded education to young people. The latest addition is the British School DQ, a private, non-profit educational institution that opened in September 2020. The new campus welcomes children aged 3-12. High quality concept-based learning, student well-being, and co-curricular programs make up the school’s philosophy.
The Tuwaiq Palace still stands tall as the heart of the DQ; its three main buildings link together like tents to show harmony and unity. The Cultural Center, a two-floor building that occupies 12,000 square meters, still sees celebrations and conferences from time to time. Though limited in its events because of the pandemic, the halls of the Cultural Center continue to shine in its historical glory.
The DQ’s unique building complex houses regional organizations like the Gulf Cooperating Council and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, along with businesses like Saudi Airlines and the newest one, Alsarh Travel. Several Saudi government bodies also call the DQ home: from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, and the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Speaking of health, the DQ now has its own medical facility with the entry of the Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, a state-of-the-art healthcare facility near the Richard Bodeker Park. The hospital offers 24-hour emergency services, a pharmacy, and numerous clinics for various medical needs.
The DQ also saw the rise of the hospitality sector with the addition of the Marriott Riyadh DQ and Radisson Blu DQ. Both hotels are known for their luxurious accommodations and world-class restaurants and amenities. Visitors to the DQ will find a home away from home in these two prestigious hotels.
The gardens and parks of the DQ are still the best places to spend quality time with families and friends. Filled with flora and fauna unique to the desert climate and terrain, these spaces provide avenues for picnics, hiking, biking, and more. The Al Khuzama Park is the venue of the Riyadh Season zone, The Groves. It’s filled with sparkling lights and high-end restaurants nowadays. The Yamama Park and Rock Park are still favorites for their wide spaces and playgrounds. Small parks are visited for some quiet time and relaxation. Walking and running in the DQ trails are still the prevalent leisure activities.
The DQ plazas were renovated recently. The 6,080 square-meter Al-Kindi Plaza, one of the iconic plazas of the DQ and considered to be the standard of cities in the Arab and Muslim world, was expanded. The old restaurants were replaced with new ones to cater to the growing demand for more fresh culinary options. However, despite the renovations, the plaza still preserves the traditional bond between the mosque and public space. Likewise, the Fazari Plaza has undergone changes by welcoming new dining places and shops. A new, trendy plaza has joined the bustling DQ: Oud Square. With its integrated modern complex of offices and shops, Oud Square increased the footfall in the DQ; its cafés and restaurants are always full.
The opening of a supermarket in the DQ has also ushered in excitement. Tamimi Markets, one of the fastest-growing supermarket chains in Saudi Arabia, opened their branch in the DQ giving residents a variety of fresh produce, grocery products, and high-quality essentials.
The development and modernization are non-stop; the DQ is always bustling with activities! The DQ continues to be a beacon of hope and inspiration to the people of Riyadh. It continues to uphold the integrity of the local and international communities while keeping up with the changes in Saudi Arabia. Truly, the DQ still holds the vision of peace and unity in its heart.
DQ Living Magazine: Then and Now
In 2016, Maria Cometti had just moved to Saudi Arabia to live in the Diplomatic Quarter. At the time, she realized that there weren’t enough resources to find out information about the community that she was about to live in. With the DQ being one of the unique districts in Riyadh, she saw the opportunity to bridge the needs and interests of everyone by establishing a pioneer publication that would soon be known as the DQ Living Magazine.
It was not an easy start, as her initial pitch to a few consultants was met with discussion. It wasn’t until she met with two ladies of The Pink Tarha, an award-winning lifestyle blog in Riyadh, that her idea finally came into fruition. With her background in marketing and community organization, and their creative skills in writing and designing, the wheels were now in place to finally make the magazine a reality.
The idea was embraced by DUR Hospitality, the largest residential real estate company in the DQ. At that time, DUR was also looking for a way to stay in touch with the DQ community. Sharing the same vision and mission with DQ Living of nurturing and connecting the community, DUR came on board as the magazine’s main sponsor.
The first issue of DQ Living Magazine came out in February 2017.
By early February 2017, the first issue of the DQ Living Magazine was published and distributed to the embassies, businesses and residents of the DQ. Little did they know that they arrived at such a burgeoning stage in Saudi Arabia; as that year proved to be the start of the changes that would unfold and open the country to what it is today (and what it will soon become more of).
Since then, it has slowly grown as a part of the diplomatic and residential community of the DQ. The magazine has featured over 30 embassies, ambassadors and diplomats, philanthropists, business leaders, educational institutions, directory guides, events, and also helped DQ neighbors get to know each other a little more. It has showcased the diversity of cultures and bilateral relationships between other countries and Saudi Arabia, and how there is a growing number of activities and locations developing in the DQ.
In April 2018, DQ Living helped organize the DQ Community Picnic hosted by Darraq, one of DQ’s premier properties. Held in Al Yamamah Park with over 200 attendees, it was a successful gathering of friends and families for one enjoyable afternoon. Later that year, the Diplomatic Quarter General Authority was officially established and the DQ Living Magazine became a media partner for the authority’s projects and events.
While the pandemic may have halted other print publications, DQ Living forged on through 2020 with a continuous message of resilience and hope to its readers. After all, the process of growth is always met with adversity.
The Diplomatic Quarter has grown through the years and the magazine has grown up alongside it. From what started out as a three-person team is now a team of 15; from a 25-page publication, it now averages 55 to 60 pages per issue. It is now a duly recognized niche magazine that is distributed to over 100 locations within the DQ and Riyadh. It also hosts a fully functional website of archived issues and has a digital reach of 20,000 users across its email database and social media channels. Needless to say, DQ Living is living up to what it had set out to do.
Entering its 6th Year with a new look.
With five years under its belt, the magazine is eager to continue on with the groundwork it has established and more. The focus continues to be in service of the DQ community and expanding its coverage to all the relevant information it can share amongst its readers.
Photography by DQ Office.
