Buraidah
Buraidah (Arabic: بريدة Buraydah) is the capital and largest city of Al-Qassim Region in north-central Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. Buraydah lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and Persian Gulf to the east. It is known for its dates festival which is the biggest in the world with extensive variety of dates. It has been called the city of dates. On November 8, 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "UNESCO" included the city of Buraidah among the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities.
Buraydah
بريدة | |
|---|---|
City | |
View of Buraidah | |
Buraydah Location in Saudi Arabia | |
| Coordinates: 26°20′N 43°58′E | |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Region | Al-Qassim Region |
| Area | |
| • City | 1,291 km2 (498.3 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 15,060 km2 (5,810 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Population (2022 census) | |
| • City | 571,169 |
| • Density | 440/km2 (1,100/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 677,647 (Buraidah Governorate) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| Area code | +966 |
| Website | marsad-buridah |
Buraydah, the regional capital of Al-Qassim Region, is located on the edge of the Wadi Al-Rummah. Buraydah has a typical desert climate, with hot summers, mild winters and low humidity.
In Buraydah, agriculture is still the cornerstone of the economy. The traditional oasis products of dates, lemons, oranges, and other fruits are still important. Modern introduction of wheat production has become so successful that Buraydah is one of the largest producers in the kingdom, and is important in making Saudi Arabia a net exporter of cereal.