Grand Voyager | Exploring Diriyah, Saudi Arabia - video Dailymotion

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Grand Voyager | Exploring Diriyah, Saudi Arabia  From ancient mud-brick palaces to lush golf courses, Diriyah blends heritage, culture, and modern sophistication. But what is it about this historic district that makes it such a fascinating destination for locals and visitors?  In partnership with Media City  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/10/29/grand-voyager-exploring-diriyah-saudi-arabia  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager.

00:05From my base in Qatar, I travel the world to discover incredible places filled with culture, luxury and adventure.

00:14Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavours and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.

00:21Today, I'm heading to a place where history, heritage and luxury come together.

00:33Just a short flight from Qatar.

00:36Dariya is one of Saudi Arabia's most important historical destinations.

00:40The place where the kingdom's story began.

00:44At its heart lies At-Taraif, a heritage site that once served as the capital of the first Saudi state.

00:52Known as the City of Earth for its distinctive mudbrick architecture, it's built from the very soil it sits upon.

01:00I'm here to discover its timeless beauty, from ancient roots to modern hospitality and explore what makes this place truly remarkable.

01:10To start my journey, I've arranged to meet Sara Al-Frayan, a cultural guide with a deep passion for local heritage.

01:17Sara, thank you so much for showing me around today.

01:21This is incredible.

01:23Please explain a little bit about this place.

01:25First of all, I'm delighted to have you here today, Lili, in the Dariya.

01:29We are now in the Tariya district.

01:30As you can see, it actually has the real culture of Najdi, architectural and authenticity of our traditions.

01:39Also, At-Taraif, it's gained the world UNESCO recognition for this site.

01:46At-Taraif spans 160,000 square meters and is one of the largest heritage restoration projects in the region.

01:53Wandering through its walkways and courtyards with Sara, I can almost picture what life was once like here.

02:01This district was home to mosques, schools and family houses, a thriving community long before Riyadh became the nation's capital.

02:11At its center stands Salwa Palace, the largest structure in At-Taraif.

02:16This is one of the important places that you should see.

02:20This wasn't only a residential home for the ruler.

02:24It was actually the administrative and the political center from the first Saudi state.

02:30That is incredible.

02:32What an amazing building.

02:35At-Taraif gives a real glimpse into Saudi Arabia's past.

02:39Fully restored, yet still full of life and tradition.

02:42Close by, that same heritage continues in a different way, through food.

02:50Sara has invited me to a local restaurant to try some authentic Saudi flavors.

02:56Here, traditional dishes are given a modern touch.

02:59It's a perfect way to end my experience with Sara.

03:04Let me do that for you, Lily.

03:05I want to take care of you today and to welcome you to our signature dishes.

03:13Thank you so much.

03:15You truly have welcomed me and sharing food with you is incredible.

03:18Why is food such an important part of the Arabic culture?

03:21Actually, you know, the food is representing the culture and the customs of the people.

03:27And the hospitality is actually very important to us in Saudi Arabia.

03:31It actually comes from the soul.

03:32Saudi warmth is about more than just generosity.

03:36It's deeply rooted in the culture.

03:40The food and Sara's kindness reflect the spirit that defines life here.

03:45After an incredible meal, I'm heading off to see another side of Dorea.

03:49Not far from here lies Wadi Safar, a wide open valley set to become one of the most exciting new destinations in the region.

04:01The clubhouses and academy buildings are inspired by traditional architecture, blending local heritage with contemporary design.

04:09My coach today is Callum, an experienced golf instructor.

04:12And we're starting with some practice at the club's brand new driving range.

04:18Hello, Callum.

04:19It's such a pleasure to meet you.

04:20Good morning, Lily.

04:21Lovely to have you.

04:22I'm so excited to be here.

04:23What is in store for me today?

04:25So in store we have a warm-up area on the driving range first before we head over to the putting green.

04:30Get a little practice there.

04:31And then we're going to head out on the academy course for some golf.

04:34This sport is all about precision and patience.

04:38And with Callum's help, I'm hoping to get the hang of it.

04:41How we would hold the club first, okay?

04:43So the left hand would go at the top of the golf club with our left thumb running down towards the club head.

04:48Next would be aim.

04:50So this part of the golf club here is the club face, okay?

04:52So that's an important part, especially when we're aiming for a certain target.

04:56So what we're looking for is to line the centre of the club face up to the intended target line on the driving range.

05:02There's a lot to think about, how to hold the club, how to line it up and how to stay loose and relaxed.

05:08As I become more confident, Callum shows me how to bring it all together.

05:13When we put that back down and we take that stronger grip, that's what it's called.

05:17Yeah.

05:17When you make your motion off the swing, the club face is then squarer at the point of impact.

05:22Okay, grip's looking good.

05:25Now just focus your eyes on that golf ball.

05:27Keep that head nice and still and strike down towards the ground.

05:30Good.

05:32Well done.

05:33With each swing, it's starting to feel more natural.

05:37Callum shows me how to putt on the practice putting green.

05:40And with the ball finally going into the hole, it's time to head out onto the course to put it all together.

05:48A few good shots later and I'm really starting to enjoy it.

05:53Ah, fantastic.

05:54Yes.

05:55Great golf shot.

05:56Thank you so much, Callum.

05:57No problem at all, Lily.

05:58After an incredible day out on the course, I'm heading to get a better view of it all.

06:06It's been such a rewarding experience and I want to take in this beautiful landscape from the perfect vantage point.

06:12I've had such an incredible day here today.

06:18Wadi Safa truly is the epitome of heritage meets luxury.

06:22Not far from here lies Wadi Hanifa, a long green valley that winds through the heart of the old city.

06:33Once an oasis in the desert, it's now a peaceful place to walk, cycle and enjoy nature.

06:39Cycling in this area is really relaxing.

06:44The cool breeze and stunning views make it a perfect way to explore and exercise.

06:52Just a short ride away stands Bab Samhan Hotel, a luxurious retreat with real historical roots.

06:59Miss Lily, welcome to Bab Samhan.

07:03The hotel's general manager, Fabrice Dukrai, is here to tell me more about the story behind the hotel.

07:10The hotel itself actually is a historical site.

07:14It started off in the Ministry of Culture, wanting to renovate a few houses, nudge the houses.

07:20And then one thing led to the other that's turned into the hotel that it is today.

07:25What began as a simple restoration project has evolved into one of Dorea's most remarkable hotels.

07:34Bab Samhan blends original features with heritage-inspired designs.

07:40What I love about this place is how it captures the essence of Dorea.

07:44Heritage, culture and beauty all in one.

07:49Each suite here reflects Dorea's history.

07:52Crafted with natural materials and decorative touches.

07:56This royal suite perfectly balances tradition and luxury.

08:00A colourful space that feels truly part of Dorea's story.

08:07Just outside Riyadh, in the desert area of Al-Muzamia,

08:12I'm meeting Salma Tari, a skilled rider and Arabian horse enthusiast.

08:17Known online as La Cavliere Al-Igon, she has inspired over a million followers across Saudi Arabia and beyond with her epic cinematic videos.

08:28Today, she has something special lined up for me.

08:34Hello Salma, thank you so much for having me today.

08:37Thank you. It's really nice to have you here.

08:39This is absolutely incredible. What are we doing today?

08:43Thank you. So I'm happy to have you in our stable called Chalifat and Natch.

08:46And first of all, I will give you a little tour and then I will let you have your first experience with an Arabian horse.

08:53And the last part, I will be riding in the desert.

08:56OK, let's get straight to it.

08:58Let's go.

09:00Arabian horses are known for their unique appearance, strength and gentle nature.

09:05Let me introduce you to our mares.

09:07Yes.

09:08So most of our mares are located on this side.

09:11So we separate the mares and the stallions.

09:13And we also train them to be calm and relaxed.

09:17So when the students come and train with our horses, they are comfortable because Arabian horses are quite nervous.

09:24That's why we only let our students to ride females.

09:28Arabian horses are famous for beauty shows or for endurance.

09:32When it comes to endurance horses, we train them to canter for a very long distance.

09:37And only Arabian horses can ride up to 160 kilometers.

09:41Salma takes me further around the stables, where beautiful Arabian horses are everywhere.

09:47As you can see on my left, we have some mares and we can put them together.

09:53And they're all fine.

09:54They're all fine.

09:55Yes.

09:55It says a lot, doesn't it?

09:56The females are the relaxed ones.

09:58Exactly.

09:59We get on very well.

10:00And then you have the stallions against each other.

10:03And you cannot do that with stallions.

10:04If you put them together, it's just impossible.

10:07They will be fighting.

10:08Salma brings me closer to these beautiful creatures, so I can get to know them better.

10:14We feed them dates, a favorite treat, and it's easy to see how much they're loved and cared for here.

10:20Next, we head to the training area, where a horse and riding gear are waiting for me.

10:25Before we begin, Salma shares a few tips on how to approach a horse safely.

10:29So, first of all, I need to give you a little bit of guidance, okay?

10:33So, when it comes to horses, always come from the front side, not the back side, okay?

10:39Especially if you do not know the horse, it might kick.

10:41And always try to make some noise so the horse is alert and knows that you are around him, okay?

10:47With Salma's help, I climb into the saddle.

10:50It's a little higher than I expected, but once I'm up, there's an incredible sense of calm and connection.

10:56Let me show you how we hold the reins.

10:58So, when you put your hands like this inside, like that, and the same thing on the other side, okay?

11:05You can really sense the horse's strength, her gentleness and intelligence.

11:10But I must admit, it's hard to tell who's guiding who.

11:15And I want you to keep the horse head straight.

11:18Come towards me, yes, and when you're in front of me, you stop the horse.

11:22We leave the stables behind and head out into the open desert.

11:29Riding through the sand dunes with Salma feels like something out of a dream.

11:33The landscape, the light, and the beautiful horse beneath me feel truly special.

11:40As the sun is setting here in Saudi Arabia, I'm reflecting on what an incredible experience this has been.

11:47I mean, horse riding in the desert, it doesn't get much better than this.

11:50But now, on to the next adventure.

Grand Voyager | Exploring Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

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