Al Abtal Gate
{{Short description|Monument in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia}}{{Infobox monument|name=Al-Abtal Gate|native_name=بوابة الأبطال|native_name_lang=ar|location=Highway 40, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia|open={{Start date and age|21 April 2013}}|dedicated_to=Abdulaziz ibn Saud|coordinates={{Coord|24|31|33|N|46|26|15|E|type:landmark_region:SA-ES|display=inline,title}}|begin=2001|image=Heroes Gate Riyadh, Dec 2023.jpg|caption=Al-Abtal Gate monument, 2023, on the side of Nemar suburb}}
Al-Abtal Gate ({{Langx|ar|بوابة الأبطال|lit= Gate of the Heroes}}), or Riyadh al-Gharbia Gate ({{Langx|ar|بوابة الرياض الغربية|lit= Western Gate of Riyadh}}), is a pair of symmetrical memorial monuments situated on the either side of Highway 40 (Makkah al-Mukarramah Road) at the Qiddiya civilian checkpoint in southwestern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, officially partitioned between King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy from the north and Nemar suburb from the south. Constructed from 2001 to 2013 and modelled mainly after the Al-Masmak Palace, it commemorates the Battle of Riyadh of 1902 and is a local visitor attraction besides being a stopover for travellers passing through the city’s western exit.
History
File:Masmak Fort (12753717253).jpg in Riyadh, which the al-Abtal Gate is mainly modeled after]]
The monument was inaugurated in 2013 during the reign of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz{{Cite web |date=21 April 2013 |title=أمير الرياض يفتتح المشروع التاريخي.. "بوابة الرياض – المدخل الغربي" |url=https://www.alweeam.com.sa/y2013/196610/%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A-%D8%A8/ |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=www.alweeam.com.sa}} and pays a tribute to King Abdulaziz ibn Saud and his companions in their efforts to recapture the walled town of Riyadh in a battle in 1902. It resembles the cylindrical mudbrick watchtowers of Masmak Fortress and those of the former city fortifications of the old walled town.{{Cite web |date=14 October 2011 |title=الظلام يخفي جماليات بوابة الرياض الغربية.. وعبارات التحذير تحل مكان الترحيب! |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/675561 |access-date=24 December 2023}}
The monument showcases a model of King Abdulaziz's sword, cleaving a sizeable rock that symbolizes the hardships endured by the people in the former days, paving the way for prosperity as spring flowed.{{Cite web |title=سموه يكرم المساهمين والداعمين للمشروع |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2013/20130422/fe1.htm |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=www.al-jazirah.com}} Behind it stand 13 flags, each representing a province of Saudi Arabia. Surrounding the monument are 64 panels that are inscribed with the names of companions of King Abdulaziz, who assisted him during the battle for the takeover of Riyadh.{{Cite web |date=5 May 2013 |title=العاصمة تحتضن أكبر معلم حضاري وجمالي يجسد بطولات المؤسس ورجاله |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/832349 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=www.alriyadh.com |language=ar}}
Construction for the project began during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, in 2001{{Cite web |title=أعلن عن قرب ترسية مشروع بوابة الرياض الغربية |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2001/20010927/t/ec4.htm |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.al-jazirah.com}} and was a brainchild of Prince Turki bin Talal al-Saud. The monument was inaugurated by Prince Khalid bin Bandar al-Saud, the Governor of Riyadh Province in April 2013.{{Cite web |date=21 April 2013 |title=أمير الرياض: "بوابة الأبطال" تذكرنا بدور القائد المؤسس ورجاله في توحيد هذه البلاد |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/828041 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=www.alriyadh.com}}{{Cite web |date=2013-04-21 |title=أمير الرياض يفتتح المدخل الغربي لمشروع بوابة الرياض |url=https://www.aleqt.com/2013/04/21/article_749105.html |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=صحيفة الاقتصادية |language=ar}}
Gallery
File:Sword of Abdulaziz Heroes Gate.jpeg|Bronze monument depicting the Sword of King Abdulaziz and the names of his companions, 2023
File:Heroes Gate panoramic view, Nov 2023.jpeg|Al-Abtal Gate panoramic view on the side of Nemar suburb, 2023