Nejd

Nejd, also spelled Najd, is a geographic and historical region in the central part of the Arabian Peninsula, within present-day Saudi Arabia. It comprises a large, elevated plateau that forms much of the interior of the peninsula. The name Najd derives from the Arabic for “upland” or “highland.” The region is characterized by an arid to semi-arid climate, with hot summers, cool winters, and little rainfall. Water is scarce, and settlements often rely on wadis or oases, with date palms common in inhabited areas.

Historically, Nejd has been the political and cultural heart of the Saudi state. It was the base of the 18th-century Wahhabi movement led by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and its alliance with the Saud family. Diriyah, near present-day Riyadh, became the early capital of the First Saudi State; later Riyadh rose to prominence and, in 1932, Ibn Saud united the kingdom, naming it Saudi Arabia with Riyadh as its capital. The region remains central to Saudi nationalism and governance.

Culturally, Nejd is associated with the Najdi dialect of Arabic, Bedouin traditions, and distinctive architectural styles found in central towns. The interior has historically been more rural and desert-oriented than the Hijaz coastal region, with nomadic and settled communities adapting to the dry environment.

The term Nejd overlaps with several modern administrative areas, including parts of Riyadh Province and the northern central provinces. It is commonly used in historical and cultural contexts to denote the central Saudi interior rather than as an exact administrative unit.