Speaking about the Al Faisaliah Center, U.K. architect Lord Norman Foster once declared, “The opportunity to create Riyadh’s and Saudi Arabia’s first skyscraper was a tremendous responsibility. I wanted to come up with a concept that was not only original but one that the community would be proud of in years to come.”

Situated in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, Riyadh has come a long way from a nomadic settlement since becoming the official capital in 1932, with only remnants of the early mud-brick fort of Al-Musmak still visible in the city’s southern part. Today, the skyline of Riyadh — from the Arabic word rawdah meaning “garden” — is a forest of skyscrapers surrounded by a sea of sand. But in the 19th century, when the royal capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia planted its roots, the old walled city was more akin to a dusty outpost in the desert.

The Beta World City transformed into the country’s administrative and financial juggernaut. Mired in contradictions, modern Riyadh boasts many superlatives in this conservative kingdom. Among them is the world’s largest women’s university, Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University. Ever since the oil-crazed 1950s — Riyadh possesses ample oil revenues — big foreign industries kept their sights on this growing metropolis often dubbed the Queen of the Desert. And the city’s 5 million-plus residents have been busy basking in the economic glory. Still lacking in the city is a viable public transportation system; business travelers should plan to utilize the city-wide white taxis frequently.

An ambitious urban development project called The King Abdullah Financial District is now under way. Once completed, the Middle East’s first financial district built on a scale to match the major global financial centers will have an array of shops, restaurants and big businesses all contained in a patch of land whose tall structures and palm tree-lined parks might resemble a sci-fi movie set.

But meanwhile, only 30 minutes from King Khalid International Airport, business travelers situated in the heart of the commercial center, the Al Olaya District, have ample options to keep them busy. At the Al Faisaliah Center, now the city’s second-tallest building, looms the stunning Al Faisaliah Hotel, a Rosewood property.

The 330-room hotel is rated among the best and is known for unabashed personal butler service available in all guestrooms. The luxury property has in-room dining, state-of-the-art amenities and five restaurants ideal for entertaining, including the prestigious Globe Restaurant, named Best Fine Dining Restaurant at the recent Saudi Excellence in Tourism Awards.

In Al Olaya, you can visit the country’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Al Mamlaka at the Kingdom Centre, which many have likened to a modern bottle opener due to its fantastical shape. Ideally located at the crossroads of Olaya Road and the King Fahad Expressway near key sites, the Kingdom Centre has the world’s highest mosque and the 274-room Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh. The 18-floor luxury property, part of the massive 99-story skyscraper, has Arabic influences that mesh with modern design elements. Meeting attendees will be amazed by a collection of 10 chandeliers with 600,000 beautifully cut crystals shimmering inside the Kingdom Ballroom.

At the Four Seasons Riyadh find an array of international culinary offerings, from Italian to Asian to barbecue, to suit any client’s taste. The hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Elements features special culinary-themed evenings. On Fridays, brunch is big here as diners queue by the lively cooking stations watching Lebanese-born Executive Chef Ahmed Sleiman and his culinary brigade strut their stuff. Elements also offers a private dining room to accommodate groups of up to 24 people.

Corporate meetings occur across the city, which boasts 5-star properties in many of its 17 municipalities. With its distinctive wave-shaped roof, the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center has become a major meetings hub since its debut in 2009, hosting sectors such as construction, health care and education. The venue’s column-free floor space of 160,000 square feet and 54,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition space make the center arguably one of the biggest venues in Saudi Arabia, and it is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and WiFi.

International restaurants have popped up in Riyadh, with many U.S. chains already anchored here. But for the hip and trendy, the Tao Lounge on Tahlia Street showcases Asian delicacies amid a funky interior. Still, if it’s an authentic Middle Eastern Saudi dish that’s of interest, head to Najd Village with its set menu of 14 entrées. Sample kabsa (meat with rice) or try the local flavors of hashi (baby camel).

Old-fashioned steak and fries, done as French-style steak frites, is the only main dish served at the boite Le Relais de l’Entrecôte, but that doesn’t discourage hungry patrons who regularly form long lines to order this tasty meal.

If time allows, the King Abdul-Aziz Historical Center is a quiet oasis from the din of the city with its landscape of parks and plazas designed by German landscape architecture firm MK2 International Architects. The massive complex leads to nine fabulous venues such as the Raymond Moriyama-designed National Museum of Saudi Arabia, known for its dune-shaped façade; the Al-Murabba Palace; the restored Al Musmak Citadel; and the old Water Tower, a whimsical structure.

Riyadh is a work in progress as city limits continue to evolve like the swirling sand dunes on its outskirts. Only time will tell what the future will bring. For now, amid all the diamonds, gold and, of course, the oil, this growing metropolis in the Middle East shimmers.

Read more about Riyadh’s Burj Al-Mamlaka here.