Qassim

Overview :

The province lays on the junction of major caravan routes such as the Darb Zubaidah where the towns of Buraydah and Unaizah, have welcomed travelers for hundreds of years.

Al-Qassim rich cultural and historical heritage has always been intertwined with hospitality and agricultural cultivation, giving Al-Qassim a reputation as the nation's builder and food provider. 

Buraydah is the official capital of the province, with about 49% of the population residing in the city. The palace of the province' prince is located in the city, along with other governmental centers. It is the seventh largest city (by population) in the country after Taif with a total population of 670,000.

 

Porous sandstone and limestone rock formations allow for an abundance of underground water which means the province is a vital agricultural hub producing large quantities of grain, vegetables, fodder and fruit, as well as being the nation's largest producer of dates and wheat.

Unaizah or officially The Governorate of Unaizah (also spelled Onaizah, Onizah, is a Saudi Arabian city in the Al Qassim Province. It lays south of Buraydah (the capital of the province) and north of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city in Al-QassimProvince with a population of 135,000 (2007 census).

Historically, Unaizah was an important stopping point for Muslim pilgrims coming from Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and Persia (now Iran) on their way to Makkah. Many scientists and historians believe that Unaizah was inhabited hundreds of years before the spread of Islam, citing its reference in numerous poems from some of the most important poets of pre-Islamic Arabia such as Imru Al-Qais. 

 
Al-Qassim is also rich in nonmetal substances such as salt, kaolin, plaster, and marble. The province is known for its industrial activity and has many factories that produce cement, building materials, foodstuffs, chemicals, plastic, metal fabrication and equipment. Though Al-Qassim in Saudi Arabia is known for its agricultural products, it also houses factories of water heaters, clothes, food products, etc. The city hosts the largest factory of pharmaceuticals in the Middle East region. Apart from these, Al-Qassim also houses one of the biggest fishing farms where 1000 tons of fish are packed every morning.

 

Major Attractions :

 

Desert Safari: Sand dunes occupy almost 15% of the land area, especially in the Nafud which lays in the eastern part of the province. These provide plenty of opportunity for sporting activities, particularly Tat'aees which started here, and is proving very popular around the Kingdom.

Explore cultural village of Ashiqr: Featuring traditional sites where old mud houses are still resistant to erosion and changing there is a well known mountain and famous at the level of the central region, as there Geneina, which contains recreations, parks, banquet hall and games for children.

Prince Abdullah Sports Complex: Another must visit place at Al-Qassim is the Prince Abdullah Sports Complex which covers an area of 160000 square kilometers of land.

The Pilgrim & Trade Routes of Buraydah: Al-Qassim was a welcoming host to travelers as for several hundred years, the four great caravan routes of the ancient world converged on Al-Qassim and Unayzah

Visit camel market: Another striking feature of Al-Qassim city is its camel market. This market is the biggest Camel market in the whole world. The tourist attractions in Al-Qassim range from festivals to private meetings in family ranches. Some of the most notable venues in which festivals are held are the following:

Al Bassam Mansion, a traditional house and a private museum.

Al Hajeb Parks.

Al Hamdan House, a traditional house and a private museum.

Al Subbayyel Grotto.

Asia Resort and Park.

Dream Land, the largest theme park in Al Qassim Province and as reportedly the Central Region.

Judaida Avenue.

King Fahd Cultural Center.

The Roman amphitheatre.

Salih Bin Salih Cultural Center.

The Al-Qassim House for Traditional Legacy

Al-Qassim of Saudi Arabia is rightly known as “the vegetable basket of Saudi Arabia” because of the vast amount of agricultural output that it produces. The output is so huge in numbers that farmers even export their products to other Arabian cities.

 

 

Things To Do:

 

Hiking and leisure: Parks and sports complexes are the two main attractions for visitors to Al-Qassim in Saudi Arabia. The public parks of the Arab city cover an area of 49000 square kilometers. These parks include everything from swimming pools, waterfalls, and playgrounds to resting areas and fountains.

Governor's Office: A good architectural design which you can find in Al-Qassim is the Governor's Office very catchy white building.

Amusement Center: AmusementCenter can be found inside AL Nakeel Mall. One good place especially for kids to play and enjoy some rides.

 

Geant Shopping Mall: Just go and shop anything you want at Burayda as this international mall . 

Camel Farm: Don’t miss the animal trademark of Saudi Arabia and other mid eastern countries.

Sand Dunes: Beautiful sand dunes will welcome you along the way on your way to Qassim. Rusty orange colors and fine sands which is very ideal for sand boarding, baggy riding or just picture taking.

Mud House: While driving around Buraydah, see mud houses near the highway

There are two museums in Al-Qassim on Al-Qassim Street and King Abdul Aziz Street.

 

 

Events :

  Qassim region is the most famous province of Saudi Arabia in terms of organizing festivals and events. Five festivals takes place every year like summer Buraydah festival, Dates festival, summer festival of Unaizah and other festivals.

Famous Meals :

The Qassim cuisine in general and the cuisine of Al-Qassim are very famous for its delicious food, and for its renowned and tasty traditional meals such as Jereesh, Margoug, Gersan, and Metazeez.

As for sweets, along with other Qassim sweets, the Qassim Kleeja is a well-known sweetie all over Saudi Arabia and even the Gulf States.

 

What To Buy:

Don't Qassim Kleeja which is a famous sweetie all over Saudi Arabia and even the Gulf States and it comes in many flavours.

 

Best Time to Visit:

  Travelers can visit Qassim from November to May each year and can enjoy this historic and culture full city.

Travel Tips :

 

Muslims and non Muslims are advised to visit this attractive and culture full city of Saudi Arabia