Al-Qassim Province
The Qassim Province, 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 considered one of the breadbaskets of the country due to its agricultural tradition and resources.
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 50% 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.
Etymology
The name Al Qassim, also spelled Al Gassim, is derived from the Arabic word qassimah, a term denoting "sand dunes". The region is known for its numerous sand dunes, where the white saxaul tree commonly grows.Location
The province is located in the center of Saudi Arabia approximately northwest of Riyadh, the capital. It is bordered by Riyadh Region to the south and east, by Ha'il Region to the north, and by Al Madinah Region to the west. The region is connected to almost every part of Saudi Arabia by a very complicated network of highways. The regional airport, Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport, connects Al Qassim to the other provinces of the country.History
Pre-Islamic Arabia
There isn't much information known about Al Qassim the province in the times of Pre-Islamic Arabia. Unaizah was repeatedly mentioned as a desert watering hole in the poems of Imru Al Qais. Moreover, AlJiwa, which is about 60 km north of Unaizah, was mentioned by the heroic Absi poet Antarah bin Shaddad.The Abbasid era
Al Qassim Province had some important foyers on the road of pilgrims and traders coming from the east in the era of the Abbasid Empire.The Zubeida road was a long pilgrims road that started from the city of Kufa in Iraq and ran to Mecca in Arabia. The road was constructed in the reign of Harun Al-Rashid and was named after his wife Zubaidah. It had pilgrims foyers in many of the region's cities including Unaizah.
Tribal conflict (1600s–1907)
The Al Abu Olayan - dynasty from the Banu Tamim tribe established the emirate of Buraydah in the late 16th century by its leader, Rashid Al Duraiby. He built Buraydah and made it the province's capital. However, Unaizah was ruled by Al Sulaim dynasty from the Subay tribe. The emirate of Buraydah was later captured by Muhanna bin Salih bin Hussein Abaalkhail from the Anazzah tribe. In 1890, the Rashidi dynasty based in Ha'il annexed the province. In 1904, the Abaalkhail recaptured the province. In 1907, the province was integrated under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Al Aqilat era (late 1850 and early 1900)
They represent a settled tribes and families from Najd, specifically from Al Qassim in Saudi Arabia. Among most important families of the Aqilat are “Aba Alkhail, Al Rumaih, Al Arfaj, Al Sugair, Al Rebdi, Al Fuzan Alsabig, Al Jarbou, Al Otaishan, Al Rawaf, Al Bati, Al Musalam, Al Sharidah, Al Assaf and Al Tuwajiri”. They were famous for trading primarily gold, horses especially Arabian horses, camels, clothing and food from across Arabian Peninsula. They traded in Kuwait, Iraq, Sham "now known Jordan, Syria" and others. This nickname was unique because of their distinctiveness in wearing the Aqal and their unique uniforms from the rest of the people. they were deeply known around the people of the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab world for their courage, generosity, honesty and patience over the hardships of distant travels, as they had a great impact in flourishing of economics and business around the region. They have known as they are heroes of Arabian region as they were first ambassador of His Majesty King Abdul Aziz. As the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, said that Al Aqilat are the best and first ambassadors to the Arabian nations in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz praised the men of Al Aqilat, as he said that they were the first to bring trade to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Saudi Arabia
It is the heart of the Najd region and the centre of the Salafi movement. The province is regarded as one of the key support bases of the Al Saud family, along with Al Riyadh Province, Ha'il province and Al Jawf province. This province has also contributed many notable Salafi ulema and sheikhs.Population
Geography
Al Qassim province is divided by the Wadi Al-Rummah.The valley crosses the entire region from the west to the northeast. It is the longest valley in the whole Arabian Peninsula, it stretches for about from near Medina, to the Thuayrat Dunes in the east, and northeast of the region.
The land's height in Qassim is about 600–750 meters above sea level, and it glides from west to east in general.
Climate
Al Qassim region has a typical desert climate, known for its cool, rainy winters and for its hot, less humid summers.List of Governorates
Agriculture
Al-Qassim region hosts more than eight million palm trees, making it one of the Middle East’s largest producers of dates, producing an annual amount of 205 thousand tons of various types of luxury dates, which gives the region a high economic value by exporting large amounts of dates nationally and internationally, especially in the GCC region. Multi cities in the region market their dates production with dates festivals that mostly start in September, although Buraydah hosts the largest festival in the world, at which a lot of people come from all over the World to buy their yearly requirement of dates.Along with tourism, agriculture is still the cornerstone of the region's economy. Although the region has been known for its agricultural assets for a long time, it wasn't until recently that wheat production has been introduced to the local agricultural industry, making Saudi Arabia a net exporter of cereal. The region also produces dates, grapes, lemons, grapefruits, mandarin oranges, oranges, pomegranates, and a large group of vegetables. The region also hosts one of the biggest camel market in the world, due to its central location, surrounded by Aldahna and alnfound deserts.
Agriculture in general is considered to be a very important part of the region's natives culture, with special vegetables being linked to every city, for example eating leeks is associated with the people of Unaizah, while adding chili peppers to meals is associated with the people of the city of Rass.
Transportation
Air
- Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport, The airport is an International airport, serving destinations to GCC, Egypt and Turkey. Formerly Qassim Regional Airport and widely known in the air-travel industry as "Gassim". The airport was established in 1964 and it is owned and operated by the General Authority of Civil Aviation. The airport is in the city of Al-Mulieda, which is 30 km West of Buraidah and 40 km North West of Unaizah. According to, the number of travelers has increased from 595,170 travelers in 2011 to 1,150,000 travelers in 2014.
Rail transport
Al Qassim Railway Station located at East Buraydah 10 km at King Fahad Road.
Station facilities :
ATM, Business Lounge, Baggage trolleys, Cafes, Customer Service, Lost property, Mosque, Prayer room, Restaurants, Seated area, Shops, Car parking, Baby change, Toilets and Wi-Fi.
Timetable : 9 July – 23 September 2017
Riyadh to Qassim from 10:00 To 12:26 passing Majmaah Station.
Riyadh to Qassim from 17:30 To 20:00 passing Majmaah Station.
Qassim to Riyadh from 17:45 To 20:16 passing Majmaah Station.
Qassim to Riyadh from 21:00 To 23:26 passing Majmaah Station.
Airlines and destinations
Roads
- Highway 65 connects to Riyadh, Eastern Province and GCC Countries.
- Highway 65 connects to Ha'il, Al Jouf, Qurayyat and Jordan Borders.
- Highway 60 connects to Medina, Yanbu, Rabigh en route to Jeddah and Makkah.
- Highway 60 connects to Al Zulfi.
Education
Schools
The region is served by schools in every city and town for all three educational levels, and includes various types of school, with international and private schools.The region has 263,379 Female and Male Students, 33,061 Female & Male Teachers and 2,533 Schools.
Colleges
- College of Science Al-Zulfi
Universities
Technical and Vocational Training Corporation
- As part of the new TVET paradigm for Technical & Vocational Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Qassim has a number of technical colleges which are operated by International Training Providers and these are located in Unaizah, Ar Rass and Buraydah. Hertfordshire London Colleges operate the male and female colleges in Unaizah and they provide a foundation year where students learn to communicate and understand English and IT being taught by Native English speakers from the United Kingdom. The second and third years enables students to specialize in a wide range of technical & vocational subjects which include Automotive, Electronics, Mechatronics, Manufacturing, Business, IT and Retail leading to a diploma qualification. Students will also be allowed to continue their studies to achieve a Degree qualification whilst they are working.
- The Technical and Vocational Training Corporation has colleges located in Buraidah, Onizah, Ar Rass and Al Badayea. Colleges prepare and train students to be skilled and ready for employment in different sectors, with a focus on fields of science and technology and offers different specialization's in computer science, electronics, welding, electricity, mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, motor vehicles, chemistry, technical and administrative, communications, space management, plumbing, carpentry, photography, marketing, architectural construction, printing, plumbing and paint.
- Colleges of Excellence, the international subsidiary of TVTC has opened a new government sponsored college in Buraydah. The College is a vocational college focusing in Business, Technology and Electronics as majors and career fields.