Bab al-Thumairi, City gate in ad-Dirah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Bab al-Thumairi, also known as Al-Thumairi Gate, is a historic fortified gateway in the ad-Dirah neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It consists of an earth-structured archway attached to a cylindrical mudbrick watchtower, and it stands as one of the last remaining gates of the old city walls.
Built in the 18th century, the gate was part of Riyadh's old city walls and functioned as the main eastern entrance until the wall was dismantled in the 1950s. It was restored in the early 1990s as part of a larger project to develop the Qasr al-Hukm District.
The gate takes its name from Hassan al-Thumairi, a guard who died in battle, and it remains a symbol of the city's past. Today, it serves as a landmark at the entrance to the historic al-Thumairi Street, a thoroughfare that runs east to west through the district.
Visitors can find the gate in the eastern part of the Qasr al-Hukm District, near the intersection with King Faisal Road. It is easily reached on foot from the surrounding area, and the site is open to the public throughout the day.
The gate is one of only two surviving gates from Riyadh's old city walls, the other being Dakhna Gate. It was rebuilt in its original location using traditional materials and techniques during the restoration.
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