Places to Visit in The Qassim Province

Located at the very heart of Saudi Arabia, Qassim Province is a core agricultural region of Saudi Arabia. It is famous for the production of dates along with wheat, grapes, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, pomegranates, and a wide variety of vegetables. The region is said to have over eight million palm trees and exports more than 200,000 tons of dates worldwide. An annual date festival is held in the capital city Buraydah after the harvest season. Different types of luxury dates, as well as other date products, are showcased in this 35-day long festival that attracts buyers and tourists in large quantities from the GCC region as well as other countries. Due to its massive agricultural output, the Qassim province is also referred to as the ‘alimental basket’ of Saudi Arabia.

Another interesting aspect of Qassim province is the number of festivals that are held in the region. Being the richest region per capita in Saudi Arabia as well as the 7th most populated region, Qassim province boasts over a hundred events every year. ​​No matter which time of the year you visit, you are sure to find an interesting event taking place in the region. As per the  Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTA), in terms of hosting events and festivals, the Qassim region is the number one province in Saudi Arabia. 

Qassim province is located in the geographical center of Saudi Arabia. This region is called the Najd region. Saudi Arabia’s longest valley, the 600 km long Wadi al-Rummah crosses the province from the west towards the northeast. Even though this valley is mostly dry now but according to historians it used to be a major river that flowed from Makkah to the Arabian Gulf thousands of years ago. Due to this the region still has a generous amount of groundwater that helps make it one of the greenest regions in Saudi Arabia with an abundant agricultural yield. The climate of Qassim province is dry and hot just like most of the country.

Agriculture and tourism are two cornerstones of this region. You even get an opportunity to benefit from both in the form of agritourism. The farms and orchards welcome tourists and provide them a unique opportunity to witness the majestic palm groves and plantations. You can even buy the produce directly from these farms. 

The province has a rich history that can be witnessed in museums such as the Buraydah Museum and the Aloqilat Museum. Nearby to the Buraydah Museum you will find the lush green King Khalid Park and Garden. Entry to this park is free of cost and you can relax, and spend quality time here. It also includes a swimming pool and different activities are also organized in the park. Buraydah Water Tower is a major landmark of the capital city of Buraydah. It even has a viewpoint at the top floor that allows visitors to get an amazing birdseye view of the city. 

Unaizah, the second largest city of Qassim province hosts 12 tourist festivals every year. The city’s trademark cultural festival is held bi-annually. Al Bassam Mansion is one of the main tourist attractions in Unaizah, it was constructed in 1955 and attracts many tourists.