The Nejd, or Najd, is the central highland region of Saudi Arabia. Dominated by Riyadh, this is the ancestral home of the ruling al-Saud dynasty, and one of the most conservative parts of the Kingdom. The mosques and mosquegoers in the region are predominantly Wahhabi, Salafi, Muwahhid, Hanbali Muslim and ultra-conservatively Islamic.

Cities

• 1 Riyadh – the capital of Saudi Arabia
• 2 Buraydah (Qassim)
• 3 Ha'il
• 4 Onizah
• 5 Wadi al-Dawasir (Sulayyil) — gateway to the Empty Quarter

Other destinations

• 1 Diriyah — Extensively restored ancestral home of the Saud dynasty on the outskirts of Riyadh, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 2 Ibex Reserve Protected Area — home to the endangered Nubian ibex and other desert animals
• 3 King Khalid Royal Reserve — better known as al-Thumamah Park, nature reserve and a popular hiking destination

Understand

The Nejd region consists of the provinces of Al-Qassim, Ha'il and Riyadh.

Get in

• King Khaled Airport (RUH ^IATA)

See

Rock Art at Jabel Umm Sinman

• 1 Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia. two sites in northern Nejd, comprising a UNESCO World Heritage site (updated Jul 2026)
  • 2 Jabel Umm mountain (at the city of Jubbah 90 km northwest of Ha'il, within the Nafud desert). Jubbah is surrounded by large sandstone outcrops that are filled with ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions on the rock face, especially at Jebel Umm Sanman, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
  • 3 Jabal Al-Manjor and jabal Raat (at Al-Shuwaymis 250 km southwest of Ha'il on the border between the provinces of Ha’il and Medina).  

Go next

Article Geo different to Wikidata
Wikivoyage: Latitude 23, Longitude 45.5 (Map, Geohack)
Wikidata: Latitude 24.29133389, Longitude 43.58805389 (Map, Geohack)
Difference: 242.1km