Birthday party? Day out with pals? It’s time to find some fun things to do with friends in Riyadh. Everyone’s friendship group is made up of heaps of different personalities – but we’ve rounded up all the very best things to do with friends in Riyadh so that everyone in your gang will be happy. From live sports to skiing, caving to trampolining, or just chilling out in a café with a coffee – whatever you’re looking for there’s something for you. Here are the top fun things to do with friends in Riyadh.
Cool off at Snow City
After Saudi Arabia witnessed its first snowfall in half a century this year (confusing camels south of Mecca, we’re told) then we instantly suggested to all of our WhatsApp groups that we should make this more of a regular occurrence by taking a trip to Snow City. Riyadh’s one and only indoor ski resort provides a winter wonderland the whole year round. Opened five years ago, this Al Othaim Mall attraction has let happy visitors cool off for a few hours, swapping the desert heat for temperatures around the -3C region. And we will never tire of telling friends back home how we went sledging in Saudi Arabia in a 5,000m sq arena that’s made for a deliriously happy day out for you and your crew of snow-loving buddies.
Prices vary. Open daily noon-midnight. Al Othaim Mall, Ar Rabwah, www.othaimleisure.com (920 008 331).
Have a coffee at Al Masaa Café
There are few things finer in Arabic life a good coffee and great conversation. And if you take your friends to Al Masaa Café you’re guaranteed one of these at least. Not only is it Riyadh’s largest coffee shop, Al Masaa Café is also certified as the biggest on the planet with a quite astounding capacity of 1,050. The baristas here really know their stuff (well, they’d have to dealing with that many covers, right?). For those who lunch, or late-nighters who want to catch up while watching a game of football, Al Masaa Café has it sorted. Despite being located in the shadows of the iconic Kingdom Center and round the corner from the oh-so-posh Al Olaya district there are no delusions of grandeur here. Just cracking caffeine kicks and a food menu of which the highlights are its signature burgers and dreamy desserts.
Open daily 24/7. King Abdullah Road, Al Mohamadiyah, Riyadh, almasaacafe.com (014 561291).
Fly high at Sky Zone
Not everyone was lucky enough to have a trampoline in their garden growing up. Happily for us Riyadh residents, we have Sky Zone that is leaps and bounds better than that flimsy backyard construction we’re now glad we never had. Billed as the ‘world’s first all-walled trampoline park’, Sky Zone lets you go airborne with an array of acrobatic activities such as ultimate dodgeball, bouncy basketball and some freestyle ‘skyrobics’. Our first visit to Sky Zone left us giddy with delight (even though it was supposedly not our own birthday but that of our neighbour’s ten-year-old). And once the super-friendly staff had plucked us from the depths of a sponge-block abyss, we soon had a spring in our step again, promising ourselves that we’d spend our next big day (turning, ahem, 40) with our friends right here at Sky Zone.
Prices vary. Open Sat-Thu 4pm-11.30pm, Fri 2pm-midnight. Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz Branch Rd, Ar Rabwah, Riyadh, www.facebook.com/skyzoneksa (920 006 699).
Go caving at Heet Cave
Life in Riyadh is full of adventure and thoroughly rewards those willing to put in some hard graft. But rather than giving yourselves a daily pat on the back for a job well done, why not push your boundaries a little by taking the gang caving near Heet? One of the most daring things to do with friends in Riyadh on this list, naturally carved into the land near the majestic Mount Al Jubayl, Heet Cave looks very welcoming at first with its 20m-wide entry point. But this narrows to about 5m once you clamber down a little further. Should you and your friends have the gumption, and proper training, what lies beneath is a lake with the purest water you’re ever likely to set eyes upon. A trip to Heet Cave will surely be the greatest present you could offer your most adventurous of birthday celebrating besties.
From SAR825. Visit saudiarabiatours.net/trip-to-heet-cave.
Travel the globe at World Sights Park
Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a giant? Well, World Sights Park is the closest you and your fellow vertically challenged friends might ever get to such lofty heights. This particular Riyadh attraction never fails to bring a smile to our faces and even on our tenth trip to it, we were still happily playing ‘name that landmark’ with our friends. The Pyramids, check. Taj Mahal, check. Eiffel Tower, check. Great Wall of China, check. World Sights Park even has marvellous miniatures of Saudi Arabia’s two Holy Mosques. And if foolishly you should have forgotten to pack a picnic to enjoy on the lovely lawns here, there’s a snack bar or two to satisfy your hunger. Globetrotting in Riyadh really has never been so easy. Around the world in 80 days? How about 80 minutes, Monsieur Verne?
SAR10 for adults, SAR5 for children. Open Tue-Sun 4pm-midnight (Tuesdays for men only). Eastern Ring Road, between King Abdullah Park and Prince Muqrin ibn Abdulaziz St, Riyadh.
Watch the races at King Abdulaziz Racetrack
Saudi Arabia and horse-racing go hand in hand like coffee and dates in these parts. And should have never had the pleasure of watching these majestic beasts in full flow right until the final furlong then you must arrange a day out at Riyadh’s premier racecourse for yourself and your thoroughbred friends. The venue for the Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race (worth an incredible $20million), this vibrant venue often has a card packed with some of the finest equine talent known to man. But even if you’re rubbish at picking a winner (we know the feeling), then you and your pals can always console yourselves with some of the very reasonably priced food on offer at the grandstand café, or upgrade your experience to the upstairs restaurant from which you can witness the racing action with an unfettered view.
SAR10. Race times vary. Near King Khalid International Airport, www.frusiya.com (11 254 0111).
