The term (Al-Hami) was one of the names that the residents of old Riyadh used to call the solid Riyadh wall, and the name es back to the fact that the wall was protecting the city from those trying to raid it. This Riyadh wall has not escaped attempts of sabotage and damage over the ages, as it was subjected to destruction from time to time and rebuilt time after time. With the restoration of Riyadh by King Abdulaziz, may d rest his soul, in 1319 AH (1902 AD), a wall was built around Riyadh, and the wall included a number of large and small gates. The major gates were known as (Al-Darawiz). The people of Riyadh used to call the gates by this name in the past, influenced by the Persian language that was transmitted to them from the residents of Kuwait and Bahrain. They used to call the small gate the term (Naqb) meaning an outlet, and its singular is (Naqbah), referring to the unofficial gate which was allocated for the entry and exit of pedestrians.

The number of the old Riyadh gates reached nine, and some of them are still standing while others no longer exist except in history books. Among these gates:

 Al-Thumairi Gate :

It was known in the past as the "Al-Marwah" gate or the "Al-Ahsa" gate and it is located east of Riyadh. It was given this name after a man called (Al-Thumairi) who was killed next to the gate during the days of the first Saudi state. Also, the gatekeeper in the early reign of King Abdulaziz was also called (Al-Thumairi).

Al-Qiri Gate:

It is located east of the Al-Thumairi Gate, and it is one of the secondary gates.

Masda Gate: 

This gate was dedicated to the entry and exit of pedestrians only, and it is located in the southwestern part of the city of Riyadh, and it is considered one of the small gates that were called (Naqb).

Al-Muraigib Gate (Al-Shumaisi):

 This gate is located in the southwest of the city.

Al-Badi'ah Gate (Al-Madbah):

It was called (Al-Madbah - The Slaughterhouse) as butchers used to slaughter their sacrifices outside the town, then transport them inside the town through it. This gate was located in the western part of the city.

Al Suwailem Gate :

It was named by this name after the Al Suwailem family, which was one of the well-known and famous families in Riyadh. This gate is located in the northern part of Riyadh.

Al-Dhahira Gate (Al-Shamsiya):

It was named by this name after the neighborhood adjacent to it and it is located in the northern part of the city.

Ara'ir Gate (Manfuha):

The Ara'ir or Manfuha gate is considered one of the small gates, and was dedicated to the entry and exit of pedestrians only, and it was located in the south of the city of Riyadh.

Dukhna Gate (The Grand Darwaza):

It is the southern gate of Riyadh, and its naming is due to its proximity to the "Dukhna" district, and it was named so because it contained a well from which drinking water was drawn.