Tuwaiq Palace Heart Tent

The Heart Tent. bricepollock (Atlas Obscura User)

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Walking around Tuwaiq Palace, formerly known as the Diplomatic Club, will give you spectacular views of Riyadh. But the outside views aren’t the only reason to visit this spot. It’s home to the Heart Tent, a stunning structure that looks like a giant tent made from stained glass.

Being inside the tent feels like entering an oasis. Events for foreigners are held here, so you’ll see some typically tabu activities such as men and women smoking Shisa in the same area. The event area is a comfortable outdoor environment with Arab-styled couches, tables, and more.

Know Before You Go

Tuwaiq Palace is in the Diplomatic Quarter (the DQ) which requires going through a checkpoint to enter and non-foreigners may have restricted access. An Uber driver may not feel comfortable driving all the way into the DQ to the Tuwaiq, so you may have to exit at the Starbucks and walk.

Update: As of 2022, Tuwaiq Palace is no longer open to public. Work is in progress to turn this structure into a hotel. The Heart Tent, however, is within the walls of the compound, but not within the palace itself, which means that it may still be visited if (and it's a big IF) one is granted access at the gate.