The King Abdullah Financial District — universally shortened to KAFD — is a purpose-built business quarter in the north of Riyadh: dozens of faceted glass towers packed closely together on a site of about 1.6 square kilometres. The dense layout is deliberate. Buildings shade one another and the lanes between them, and many are connected by enclosed, air-conditioned skywalks, making this the most walkable piece of modern Riyadh.
Tallest of the group is the PIF Tower, at around 385 metres the highest building in the city. On the district’s eastern edge, the KAFD metro station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a sight in itself: an undulating white lattice shell where three metro lines meet. After years as a building site, the district now has hotels, restaurants, cafés, a conference centre and regular events.
Top things to do at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
Walk the wadi and the skywalks
A landscaped pedestrian “wadi” winds through the middle of the district between the towers, lined with cafés and public art. Above it, glazed bridges link the buildings. Come around dusk, when the towers light up and the offices empty into the restaurants.
See the metro station
Even if you are not catching a train, walk through the KAFD station for its sweeping white interior. It is also the most useful interchange on the network, including the line to the airport.
Eat and drink
KAFD has become one of the city’s dining districts, with everything from speciality coffee to high-end restaurants. It is especially lively on Thursday and Friday nights.
How to get to King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
- By metro: KAFD station is an interchange for the Blue, Yellow and Purple lines — the easiest place in Riyadh to reach by train.
- By taxi or ride-hailing: about 15–25 minutes north of central Olaya, depending on traffic.
- On a tour: architecture-focused tours of modern Riyadh include KAFD — see the tours page.
Insider tips
- Daytime on a working day is all business. For atmosphere, come from late afternoon onwards.
- The district is new and still changing; individual venues open and close frequently.
- In summer, use the skywalks — the reason they exist becomes obvious within a minute outdoors.
Best tours & tickets for King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD):
City tour from €156 Modern Riyadh: KAFD, Architecture, Metro & Street Food
A newer tour that shows the other Riyadh — the financial district’s architecture, the driverless metro and the city’s casual food scene. It had no reviews yet when we checked, so treat it as a promising unknown.
- The towers and skywalks of KAFD
- A ride on the new Riyadh Metro
- Street-food stops
City tour from €143 Riyadh: Full-Day City Exploration Tour with Optional Lunch
A full-day overview by car for travellers with only one day: the historic centre, the museum quarter and the modern skyline. Reviews are more mixed than for the others on this page, so read the recent ones and confirm the itinerary before booking.
- Old and new Riyadh in a single day
- Hotel pickup and a private vehicle
- Optional traditional lunch
