The First Saudi State
The first Saudi state was founded in Diriyah in 1744 and grew to control much of the Arabian Peninsula before its destruction by Ottoman forces in 1818.
Overview
The first Saudi state was founded in 1744 in Diriyah, on the north-western edge of present-day Riyadh, in an alliance between the ruler Muhammad ibn Saud and the religious reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
Expansion
From its base in central Arabia the state expanded to control much of the peninsula, including the Hejaz and the eastern coast, by the early nineteenth century. Its capital, Diriyah, became a substantial town with palaces, mosques and houses built in the Najdi style.
Destruction
The expansion of the state brought it into conflict with the Ottoman Empire, which dispatched forces from Egypt. Diriyah was captured and largely destroyed in 1818, ending the first Saudi state. The At-Turaif district of Diriyah survives as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
References
- Diriyah \u2014 UNESCO World Heritage Centre (accessed 5 October 2026)
- The first Saudi state \u2014 Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 5 October 2026)
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