Municipality brings story of 'Riyadh's Big Ben' to life with rare archive photos

The Riyadh Region Municipality has released a series of rare archival photographs of Al‑Safat Square, reviving the history of the city space best known for its mid‑20th century landmark, the Al‑Safat Clock — affectionately called “Riyadh’s Big Ben.” The images and accompanying text recount the square’s role as a central crossroads framed by the Palace of Justice, the Grand Mosque and the city’s main markets, and spotlight the clock installed in 1966 that became one of Riyadh’s most recognisable features.

"The square remains a living witness to the city’s history and its many transformations; a bridge linking the past to the present, and a place that will remain firmly anchored in the memory of Riyadh," the municipality said on X as it published the archive photos.

The newly shared photographs illustrate Al‑Safat Square’s multifaceted life as a commercial hub, social gathering place and transport node. The municipality’s narrative describes pre‑modern routines: at dawn camel caravans would arrive, mounts would kneel to rest, and markets would open for trade. Activities documented in the archive include the buying and selling of horses, weapons changing hands and the convergence of souq life that sustained Riyadh’s early economy.

Al‑Safat Clock: the sound of a city

• Installation year: 1966 — the Al‑Safat Clock was introduced to the square and quickly became a focal point.
• Technical note: It is described as the first talking clock in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf, launched with four loudspeakers whose sound carried for roughly 2 km.
• Civic placement: The clock and square were centrally located near the Palace of Justice, the Grand Mosque and the city’s main markets, which helped cement the site’s civic prominence.

By publishing these images, the municipality aims to rekindle public awareness of an urban site that played a central role in daily life and public rituals. The archive pictures serve as visual testimony to practices and spaces that have since been reshaped by modern development — from the camel caravans and open souqs to the communal gatherings that once defined Al‑Safat Square.

Officials emphasised the square’s continued symbolic significance even as the city has transformed, framing the photographs as a prompt for collective remembrance. The municipality’s social posts highlighted how the clock’s voice once marked time for residents and traders across a broad radius, underlining the role of public infrastructure in forming shared urban memory.

Outlook

The release of the archival collection is likely to spark renewed interest in documenting and preserving Riyadh’s urban heritage as the city continues to evolve. For historians, urban planners and residents, the images provide concrete reference points for conversations about conservation, interpretation and how historic public spaces are integrated into Riyadh’s contemporary fabric. The municipality’s publication on social media signals an ongoing effort to make the city’s past accessible to a public increasingly engaged with digital archives and historical storytelling.