In 2021, the city of Buraydah was classified as a creative city in Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and it joined the UNES Creative Cities Network to become the first Gulf city and the second Arab city and the Middle East to obtain this classification, as it is one of the cities that developed Creativity and sustainability are a key element in its sustainable development plans, and due to its social, economic and cultural development elements, it is based on the three axes of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 (a vibrant society, a prosperous economy, and an ambitious nation).
Creativity elements:
- Preserving, reviving and developing its cultural heritage.
- Promoting sustainable development.
- Communication and exchange of heritage and cultures.
- Strengthening and sustaining the economy.
- Building a vibrant, productive society.
- Supporting families.
- Women's Empowerment.
- Attracting young people to self-employment and entrepreneurship.
- Activating the benefit of its agricultural, industrial and commercial resources.
- Raising the quality of life and fighting poverty.
- Environmental commitment.
The city of Buraydah is one of the oldest cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it was founded in the fourteenth century AD. It was named (Buraydah) due to the abundance and coolness of its water, it is located almost in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula.The Buraydah society was a productive society that worked primarily in agriculture to establish its food security, which therefore affected its food culture and ingredients, which are based on agricultural and animal products,also buraydah society was also an open one whose tendencies were dominated by the love of education in various fields. Thus, the people of Buraidah were famous for their knowledge and education that enabled them to Establish and manage trade and agriculture. Hundreds of years ago, they established trade and culture caravans called the historical “Al-Aqilat” caravans. They are merchants from the people of the city of Buraidah. who worked hundreds of years ago in the trade of gold, camels, horses, and sheep, as well as in food, agricultural and handicraft industries. The “Aqilat” men had a great impact and a pivotal role not only in the prosperity of trade, but also in transporting and bringing many cultures, sciences, and foods from foreign countries and societies that they visited on their commercial trips, including Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, and Egypt, all the way to the Maghreb and African countries.
They had a significant and clear impact on the culture and education of Buraidah society. Some of them played the role of ambassadors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at that time, and some of them even participated in Hollywood films. At present, a specialized museum has been established, which is considered one of the largest private museums in the city of Buraidah, documenting the history and biography of the Al-Uqailat caravans and their men.
The city of Buraydah is located almost in the center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Qassim region, one of the largest administrative regions in the Kingdom. Its population is more than (678,000) people, constituting 52% of the population of the Qassim region, and its area is 1,300 km.
It is the largest commercial and cultural center in the Qassim region, the crossroads of the modern highway network, and the train station that connects the main regions of the Kingdom, and close to Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz International Airport, which is approximately 25 minutes away from the center of Buraydah, it is also considered one of the most prominent civilized cities in the Kingdom, with its comparative advantage in location, fertile agricultural land, economy, culture, societal heritage, and environmental commitment, with its harmonious integration between its governmental and private agencies and the private sector in the aspects of education, health, municipality, agriculture, security, sports and social services, in light of the specific development plans and thoughtful trends that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently witnessing in accordance with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
