Al-Qassim Province
The Qassim Province (Arabic: منطقة القصيم Minṭaqat al-Qaṣīm [alqɑˈsˤiːm], Najdi Arabic: [elgəˈsˤiːm]), also known as the Qassim Region, is one of the 13 provinces of Saudi Arabia. Located at the heart of the country near the geographic center of the Arabian Peninsula, it has a population of 1,336,179 and an area of 58,046 km2. It is known to be the "alimental basket" of the country, for its agricultural assets.
Al-Qassim
منطقة القصيم | |
|---|---|
Province | |
| Emirate of Al-Qassim Province | |
Map of Saudi Arabia with Al-Qassim highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 25°48′23″N 42°52′24″E | |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Capital and largest city | Buraidah |
| Governorates | 12 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| • Vice Governor | Fahd bin Turki bin Faisal bin Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Area | |
| • Total | 58,046 km2 (22,412 sq mi) |
| Population (2022 census) | |
| • Total | 1,336,179 |
| • Density | 23/km2 (60/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166-2 | 05 |
Al-Qassim has the lowest share of population living below local poverty line in Saudi Arabia. It is the seventh most populated region in the country after Jizan and the fifth most densely populated. It has more than 400 cities, towns, villages, and Bedouin settlements, ten of which are recognized as governorates. Its capital city is Buraydah, which is inhabited by approximately 60% of the region's total population. The governor of the province from 1992 to 29 January 2015 was Prince Faisal bin Bandar, succeeded by Prince Faisal bin Mishaal.