Riyadh doesn’t have one obvious souvenir the way some cities do. Its identity is Najdi: mud-brick walls, triangular openings, carved wooden doors, and Diriyah on the city’s edge, the old capital of the first Saudi state, whose At-Turaif district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Add the coffee and incense of the majlis, and you have the things that actually say “Riyadh”.
We’re Thrr (ذر), a design brand based in Riyadh since 2015. This is our short guide to souvenirs that carry that identity, and where to find them in the city.
1. A Riyadh city map
An art map of Riyadh with its streets and districts, framed and ready to hang. Anyone who has lived in the city finds their own neighbourhood on it within seconds.
Honestly: with the frame it weighs about a kilo, so it belongs in a suitcase, not a backpack.
2. A Diriyah map
If your favourite evening in Riyadh was a walk through Diriyah, take the place home: an art map of Diriyah with its lines and landmarks, for a wall at home or in the office.
3. The Diriyah Scarf
A square scarf inspired by Diriyah’s architecture, 80 × 80 cm in 100% modal, for men and women. It weighs almost nothing and folds into a pocket, which makes it the easiest Riyadh souvenir to carry.
4. The Najd Scarf
Riyadh sits in the heart of Najd. The Najd Scarf is part of our Desert Rose collection with artist Salma Wael and designer Ghadi Alsharif, which draws on the Kingdom’s nature, history and regions. Choose 100% modal at 70 × 70 cm or 100% silk at 55 × 55 cm.
5. The Anti-Riyadh Traffic mug
Anyone who has spent a week in Riyadh has an opinion about its traffic. This mug from our Antidotes line is printed like a mock medicine leaflet “against Riyadh traffic”, and it’s the souvenir that gets a laugh from everyone who lived here. The white version is handmade ceramic, made in Saudi Arabia; there’s also a red one.
See the Anti-Riyadh Traffic mug
6. A Najdi architecture wall piece
From our Saudi Architecture Maps series: a wall piece made in the Kingdom that maps Saudi Arabia’s architectural styles, with Najdi architecture at its centre. It suits an office, a majlis or a corporate gift.
See the architecture wall piece
7. Coffee cups and an incense burner from the Riyadh majlis
Every Riyadh home receives guests with Saudi coffee and incense. The Teeb cup is a 65 ml ceramic cup with a saucer, sized for Saudi coffee, and the wooden Oudiyah burner holds incense sticks on a desk or side table.
Where to find souvenirs in Riyadh
- Thrr showroom, Al Izdihar district (Tureif Street): see our pieces in person. Open it on Google Maps for directions and opening hours.
- Online, delivered to where you’re staying: orders arrive within 36 hours anywhere in Riyadh, so you can order on day one and pack on your last night.
- Souq Al Zal in the old city: the classic stop for antiques, carpets and traditional goods, if you want something old rather than newly designed.
- At-Turaif in Diriyah: not a shop, but the best place to see the architecture behind most of the designs on this list.
Quick answers
What is a typical souvenir from Riyadh? Something with a Najdi identity: Diriyah’s mud-brick architecture, a map of the city, Saudi coffee cups or an incense burner.
What’s the lightest Riyadh souvenir to carry? The Diriyah Scarf or the Najd Scarf.
Can I order on the day I arrive? Yes. Delivery within Riyadh takes up to 36 hours.