Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate

Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate is one of the governorates of Qassim Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is among the five least populated governorates in the province, home to approximately 2.3 percent of the province's population, with an estimated 31,203 residents according to the 2022 Saudi census.

Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate is located in the center of Qassim Province, seventy km southwest of Buraydah City, the regional capital. It is bordered to the north by al-Bukayriyyah Governorate, to the east and west by areas affiliated with Buraydah, and to the south by ar-Rass Governorate.
The residents and visitors of Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate use Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Buraydah, the nearest international airport, located approximately forty-six km away. It is an international airport with a capacity of around seven hundred thousand passengers annually.
Highway Sixty-Five passes through the territory of Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate. This major route starts in Hawtat Bani Tamim in the central part of the Kingdom and ends in al-Qurayyat in the far north of the country. It serves as the main road transportation hub for accessing and traveling to and from Riyadh al-Khabra.

Riyadh al-Khabra City is one of the first cities in the Kingdom to be designated as a Healthy City by the World Health Organization, a recognition it received in 2019. Riyadh al-Khabra Governorate is home to the College of Sciences and Arts, affiliated with Qassim University.

It is one of the urban heritage sites in Qassim Province, and the village derives its name from the accumulation of rainwater and the overflow of Wadi ar-Rumah in the past. Riyadh al-Khabra has been known by several names, including "Khabra al-Jal," in the pre-Islamic era as "Khabra as-Sidr," and "Khabra al-Majadeer." In 1601, it was named "Khabra al-Afaleq." After it grew and prospered, it was called "al-Khabra," and with the emergence of New al-Khubara, it became known as "Old al-Khabra."

The total area of al-Khabra Heritage Village is 120,000 m². It is located north of Wadi ar-Rumah, sixty km from Buraydah. The village is renowned for its agricultural produce, including Ma’iyyah, also known as "Khabra wheat," as well as its mud-brick buildings constructed about two centuries ago, many of which still remain. Its landmarks include Souq al-Majlis in the center of the village, its circular mosque, and its four gates: al-Qibli Gate to the west, Makkah Gate to the south, al-Mahmal (Unayzah) Gate to the east, and Kirkuk ash-Sha’fa Gate to the north. Archaeological sites include two watchtowers on the eastern side of the remnants of al-Aqdah Wall, the northern tower, al-Nuwaisr Palace with its two sections, al-Owairedhi House, and al-Awhali Shop in the center of the village.

The village consists of mud-brick buildings ranging from one to two stories in height, centered around a large square surrounded by neighborhoods. The houses are connected by narrow alleys lined with homes, a design shaped by climatic, security, religious, and social factors.

The old village is surrounded by two walls, one of which is called "al-Aqdah." It encloses the houses and farms, with a height of thirteen cubits. Inside al-Aqdah, there are 210 wells that were used to extract water for irrigation and drinking through the use of animal-driven water wheels. The village is one of the few remaining examples in the Kingdom that represents the complete model of a traditional village. Although significant portions of the village are deteriorated, the remaining parts are still in good structural condition.

In 2010, Qassim Province Municipality, with the support of the Regional Tourism Development Authority, contributed to the restoration of al-Khabra Heritage Village, bringing it back to its original state by utilizing the expertise of elders who had lived in those buildings.

In 2011, the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities (currently the Ministry of Tourism) implemented a project to develop the villages and heritage sites surrounding al-Khabra Heritage Village. The project aimed to enhance their economic, urban, and social growth in collaboration with the local community and through a partnership between the public and private sectors.

Riyadh al-Khabra is one of the agricultural governorates in Qassim Province, known for its production of dates. The governorate hosts the "Riyadh al-Khabra Dates Festival," which attracts farmers and date traders.

The governorate also features several rural farms that draw residents and visitors with their events, activities, and entertainment programs. These farms showcase agricultural products, traditional industries, and handicrafts, and sell dates and other agricultural goods.

Riyadh al-Khabra has leveraged its agricultural heritage to develop rural agricultural tourism. One example is the Qahwat Ghazal Rural Resort, which offers entertainment programs for families and provides side seating areas where visitors are welcomed with hospitality.