Unaizah
Encyclopedia
Unaizah or officially The Governorate of Unaizah (also spelled Onaizah, Onizah, or Unayzah; ) is a Saudi Arabia
n city in the Al Qassim Province. It lies south of Buraydah (the capital of the province) and north of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city in Al-Qassim Province with a population of 163,729 (2010 census).
Historically, Unaizah was an important stopping point for Muslim pilgrims coming from Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and Persia (now Iran) on their way to Makkah. Many scientists and historians believe that Unaizah was inhabited hundreds of years before the spread of Islam, citing its reference in numerous poems from some of the most important poets of pre-Islamic Arabia such as Imru Al-Qais.
.
on the Arabian peninsula
. It is surrounded by sand dunes to its north and west, which are known locally as the Al-Ghamis Sands. The Al-Ghadha Woods are located to the north of the city.Next to Unaizah is the Al-Aushaziyah salt lake
(or Sabkha), which is considered an official part of the city.
. Its winters are cold and semi-rainy, and its summers are hot, aneroid summers with low humidity
. The summer weather of Unaizah is sometimes described as balmy to nearby farms that surround the city.
Unaizah is an agricultural area and produces wheat
and barley
of various strains. The region also grows grape
s, grapefruit
s, lemon
s, leek
s, mandarins
, oranges
, pomegranate
s and dates.
Leek
s (kurrat
) are a very important part of the local culture of Unaizah. They are popular among the locals and comprise a significant portion of the local agricultural industry.
The 4th annual Date Season Festival was held in September 2008, giving Unaizah the distinction of hosting the largest date festival in the Persian Gulf
and the Middle East
. The festival rivals the date festival of neighboring Buraydah's, which is sometimes known as "Buraydah, the City of Dates".
Unaizah's 4th annual Date Festival was known as the "Unaizah International Date Festival", though the city's title "Unaizah, the Kingdom of Dates" was retained as a motto.
; the first Saudi male from Al-Qassim Province to earn a PhD. degree was from Unaizah, and his name was Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khowaiter. The first Saudi female from Al Qassim Province to earn a PhD degree was also raised in this city. Her name was Dr. Ebtisam Al Bassam.
One of the first cities to embrace female education in Al-Qassim Province and Nejd was Unaizah. It faced resistance from neighboring provinces and brought Unaizah at the forefront of a national debate. After lengthy negotiations, the capital city of Qassim, Buraidah
a sister city of Unaizah, officially recognized the right of an education for females, partly due to King Abdulaziz
's interference in settling the dispute.
Today, there are many public schools in Unaizah for all three educational levels (primary, intermediate, and secondary). There are also two private schools and one private international school
. There is also a boys' technological secondary school in the city and a technological college, as well as a girls' educational college. Qassim University
is located approximately 30 kilometers north of the city, and enrolls both males and females.
lived in the city during his odyssey and wrote highly about the city.
Amin al-Rihani
(the famous Franco
-Lebanese
scholar and traveler) spoke highly of the city's architecture and works of art in his book "Kings of Arabia" likening it to Paris thereby coining the nickname "Paris of Najd" for the city.
There are twelve tourist festivals and activities recognized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities
, and a calendar has been made for these events.
(the Governor of Al-Qassim and Chairman of the province's Tourism Council)
The tourist attractions in Unaizah range from festivals to private meetings in family ranches. Some of the most notable venues in which festivals are held are the following:
There are three hotels in Unaizah, one of which is currently under construction, in addition to the rental apartments and suites distributed all around the city:
Although Unaizah is thought to be relatively more accepting of visitors than its neighbors, its tourism industry faces criticism for a number of reasons. One such criticism is its disregard for infrastructure maintenance.
All of the Saudi citizens of Unaizah are Sunni Muslim
with a small minority of Dharmic religions, (mostly Hinduism
) brought and practiced in the city by Asian workers (mainly India
ns), and also a small minority of Filipino
Catholic Christian
workers. As the rest of Saudi Arabian cities, non-Islamic worship houses are not allowed.
The majority of the city's inhabitants are socially conservative. One of Saudi Arabia's leading religious clerics Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
was a student of the late Sheikh
Abdulrahman Al Se'di, an Unaizah native. Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
himself was born and raised in Unaizah. He lived in Unaizah until he died, where many mosques have been built and named after him.
The Qassimi cuisine in general, and the cuisine of Unaizah is very famous for its delicious food, and for its renowned and tasty traditional meals such as Jereesh, Margoug, Gersan, and Metazeez.
As for sweets, along with other Qassimi sweets, the Qassimi Kleeja is a well-known sweetie all over Saudi Arabia and even the Gulf States.
Like other Saudi cities, the Nejdi Kabsa
is the most traditional lunch. The Yemeni Mandi
is also popular as a lunch meal.
Fast food is also popular in the city. McDonald's
, Starbucks
, Domino's Pizza
, Herfy
, Pizza Hut
, Little Caesar's, Hardee's
, and KFC
among others are widely distributed in Unaizah.
, and it is very popular in Unaizah, it is played in school's P.E. (i.e. Physical Education) lessons, and it is common to see a group of kids playing it in the streets.
There are two local clubs in Unaizah, the Saudi Al Najmah club, and the Al Arabi club.
, Alriyadh, Okaz, Al Watan
, Al Hayat, Al Yaum, as well as one English-language newspaper
, Arab News
. Unaizah has one local magazine
, that issues every four months, it is called Paris Nejd, named after the widest spread nickname
of Unaizah. In addition to many other national and international magazines distributed everywhere in the city's markets.
Television stations serving the city area include Saudi TV1, Saudi TV2, Saudi TV Sports, Al Ekhbariyah, ART channels network
and hundreds of cable, satellite and other specialty television providers.
family since 1818. They came to power when Prince Yehya Al-Sulaim in 1822 killed the governor appointed by the Ottoman emperor
, Abdullah Al-Jamei. This dynasty still rules the city according to a written treaty between them and the Saudi royal family
. Some of the most famous families in Saudi Arabia
originate from Unaizah, including the Al Ghothami, Al Hatlani, Al Sulaiman, Al Hamdan, Al Tamimi, Al Zamil, Al Olayan, Al Bassam, Al Gadhi,Alsaloom, Al Subaiee, Al Senany, Al Mansour, Al Yahya, Al Thukair, Al Turki, Al Shoshan, Al Shubaili, Al Shebel, Al Damigh, Al Othaimeen, Al Malloohi, Al Marzooki, Al Manei, Al Se'di, Al Abeeki, Al Khwaiter, Al Sowayil, Al Daffaa, Al Jaffali, Al Dukhayyel, Al Dakheel, Al Abdeli, Al Suhaimi, Al Ohali families and many others.
(http://archive.al-jazirah.com.sa/2007jaz/jun/4/cu6.htm)
The first non-governmental literary society/club in the kingdom was established in Unaizah in 1953, and in 1921, the first public school in Najed was established.
Unaizah is well known for its hospitality, hence, there are a variety of tourism Festivals in the year. These include dates, and healthy crops festivals. There is also a bi-annual cultural festival which is a trademark for this city.
It was the only city of the Nejd region to invite a Saudi Shiite cleric to speak in a public event, in a grass-roots effort to promote a united national identity. This drew criticism from conservatives in neighboring cities.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n city in the Al Qassim Province. It lies south of Buraydah (the capital of the province) and north of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest city in Al-Qassim Province with a population of 163,729 (2010 census).
Historically, Unaizah was an important stopping point for Muslim pilgrims coming from Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and Persia (now Iran) on their way to Makkah. Many scientists and historians believe that Unaizah was inhabited hundreds of years before the spread of Islam, citing its reference in numerous poems from some of the most important poets of pre-Islamic Arabia such as Imru Al-Qais.
Location
Unaizah is in the sotuh of Al-Qassim Province and at the heart of the historical region of Nejd. It is located roughly 30 kilometers from Buraydah (the capital of the province) and more than 300 kilometers north of the Saudi capital, RiyadhRiyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
.
Geography
Unaizah lies in the northern-central region of the Nejd and to the south of the Wadi Al Rumma (Rumma Valley), which is the longest valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
on the Arabian peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. It is surrounded by sand dunes to its north and west, which are known locally as the Al-Ghamis Sands. The Al-Ghadha Woods are located to the north of the city.Next to Unaizah is the Al-Aushaziyah salt lake
Salt lake
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water which has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes . In some cases, salt lakes have a higher concentration of salt than sea water, but such lakes would also be termed hypersaline lakes...
(or Sabkha), which is considered an official part of the city.
Climate
Unaizah has a typical desert climateDesert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
. Its winters are cold and semi-rainy, and its summers are hot, aneroid summers with low humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
. The summer weather of Unaizah is sometimes described as balmy to nearby farms that surround the city.
Agriculture
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
of various strains. The region also grows grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s, grapefruit
Grapefruit
The grapefruit , is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. When found, it was named the "forbidden fruit"; it has also been misidentified with the pomelo or shaddock , one of the parents of this hybrid, the other being sweet orange The...
s, lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
s, leek
Leek
The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum , also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs, along with the onion and garlic, to family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae...
s, mandarins
Mandarin orange
The orange, also known as the ' or mandarine , is a small citrus tree with fruit resembling other oranges. Mandarin oranges are usually eaten plain or in fruit salads...
, oranges
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
s and dates.
Leek
Leek
The leek, Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum , also sometimes known as Allium porrum, is a vegetable which belongs, along with the onion and garlic, to family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae...
s (kurrat
Kurrat
Kurrat, or Egyptian leek , is grown in the Middle East for its leaves. It is closely related to elephant garlic and leeks and is generally regarded as being in the same species, though it is also commonly listed as Allium kurrat....
) are a very important part of the local culture of Unaizah. They are popular among the locals and comprise a significant portion of the local agricultural industry.
The 4th annual Date Season Festival was held in September 2008, giving Unaizah the distinction of hosting the largest date festival in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The festival rivals the date festival of neighboring Buraydah's, which is sometimes known as "Buraydah, the City of Dates".
Unaizah's 4th annual Date Festival was known as the "Unaizah International Date Festival", though the city's title "Unaizah, the Kingdom of Dates" was retained as a motto.
Education
Unaizah is home to some pioneers in educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
; the first Saudi male from Al-Qassim Province to earn a PhD. degree was from Unaizah, and his name was Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khowaiter. The first Saudi female from Al Qassim Province to earn a PhD degree was also raised in this city. Her name was Dr. Ebtisam Al Bassam.
One of the first cities to embrace female education in Al-Qassim Province and Nejd was Unaizah. It faced resistance from neighboring provinces and brought Unaizah at the forefront of a national debate. After lengthy negotiations, the capital city of Qassim, Buraidah
Buraidah
Buraidah is the capital of Al-Qassim Province in northcentral Saudi Arabia in the heart of the Arabian peninsula. Buraidah lies equidistant from the Red Sea to the west and the Persian Gulf to the east...
a sister city of Unaizah, officially recognized the right of an education for females, partly due to King Abdulaziz
Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia
King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia was the first monarch of the Third Saudi State known as Saudi Arabia. He was commonly referred to as Ibn Saud....
's interference in settling the dispute.
Today, there are many public schools in Unaizah for all three educational levels (primary, intermediate, and secondary). There are also two private schools and one private international school
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
. There is also a boys' technological secondary school in the city and a technological college, as well as a girls' educational college. Qassim University
Qassim University
Qassim University is a public university in the Al-Qassim Province of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 2004 jointly between King Saud University and Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, each of which used it as its Qassim campus. Subsequently, its constituent colleges became a part of...
is located approximately 30 kilometers north of the city, and enrolls both males and females.
Western Travelers
The people of Unaizah are well known for their hospitality and acceptance for people from other races and religions. The famous Charles Montagu DoughtyCharles Montagu Doughty
Charles Montagu Doughty was an English poet, writer, and traveller born in Theberton Hall, Saxmundham, Suffolk and educated at private schools in Laleham and Elstree, and at a school for the royal navy, Portsmouth...
lived in the city during his odyssey and wrote highly about the city.
Amin al-Rihani
Amin al-Rihani
Ameen Rihani, also spelled Amin al-Rihani , was a Lebanese Arab-American writer, intellectual and political activist. He was also a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist of Arab nationalism...
(the famous Franco
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
scholar and traveler) spoke highly of the city's architecture and works of art in his book "Kings of Arabia" likening it to Paris thereby coining the nickname "Paris of Najd" for the city.
Tourism
Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities
Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities is state-run organization, devoted for developing tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with particular focus on encouraging and supporting domestic tourism through sponsoring and conducting tourism events across the country...
, and a calendar has been made for these events.
(the Governor of Al-Qassim and Chairman of the province's Tourism Council)
The tourist attractions in Unaizah range from festivals to private meetings in family ranches. Some of the most notable venues in which festivals are held are the following:
- Al Bassam Mansion, a traditional house and a private museum .
- Al Hajeb Parks.
- Al Hamdan House, a traditional house and a private museum.
- Al Subbayyel Grotto.
- Asia Resort and Park.
- Dream Land, the largest theme park in Al Qassim Province and as reportedly the Central Region.
- Judaida Avenue.
- King Fahd Cultural Center.
- The Roman amphitheatre.
- Salih Bin Salih Cultural Center.
- The Unaizah House for Traditional Legacy.
There are three hotels in Unaizah, one of which is currently under construction, in addition to the rental apartments and suites distributed all around the city:
- Al Fahd Crown (under construction).
- Oasis Hotel.
- Onaizah Hotel.
Although Unaizah is thought to be relatively more accepting of visitors than its neighbors, its tourism industry faces criticism for a number of reasons. One such criticism is its disregard for infrastructure maintenance.
Religion
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
with a small minority of Dharmic religions, (mostly Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
) brought and practiced in the city by Asian workers (mainly India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns), and also a small minority of Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Catholic Christian
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
workers. As the rest of Saudi Arabian cities, non-Islamic worship houses are not allowed.
The majority of the city's inhabitants are socially conservative. One of Saudi Arabia's leading religious clerics Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
Sheikh Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymeen at-Tamimi an-Najdi was one of the most prominent Sunni Islamic scholars of the latter half of the twentieth century...
was a student of the late Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Abdulrahman Al Se'di, an Unaizah native. Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen
Sheikh Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymeen at-Tamimi an-Najdi was one of the most prominent Sunni Islamic scholars of the latter half of the twentieth century...
himself was born and raised in Unaizah. He lived in Unaizah until he died, where many mosques have been built and named after him.
Cuisine
As for sweets, along with other Qassimi sweets, the Qassimi Kleeja is a well-known sweetie all over Saudi Arabia and even the Gulf States.
Like other Saudi cities, the Nejdi Kabsa
Kabsa
Kabsa is a family of rice dishes that are served mostly in Saudi Arabia — where it is commonly regarded as a national dish — and the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Kabsa, though, is believed to be indigenous to Yemen...
is the most traditional lunch. The Yemeni Mandi
Mandi (food)
Mandi is the traditional dish in Yemen native to Hadhramaut Province Yemen and many other Yemeni Cities known as Haneeth also.It is now very popular in the rest of the Arabian Peninsula and in many other Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria....
is also popular as a lunch meal.
Fast food is also popular in the city. McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza, Inc. is an international pizza delivery corporation headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. Founded in 1960, Domino's is the second-largest pizza chain in the United States and has over 9,000 corporate and franchised stores in 60 countries and all 50 U.S....
, Herfy
Herfy
Herfy is a large fast food restaurant chain in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest in the Middle East, surpassing major international corporations in terms of local size. It has a total of more than 100 restaurants and 2,000 employees throughout Saudi Arabia. It also has many subsidiaries including...
, Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
, Little Caesar's, Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
, and KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
among others are widely distributed in Unaizah.
Sports
Unaizah is very active in terms of sports. Football (soccer) is the most popular sport all over Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, and it is very popular in Unaizah, it is played in school's P.E. (i.e. Physical Education) lessons, and it is common to see a group of kids playing it in the streets.
There are two local clubs in Unaizah, the Saudi Al Najmah club, and the Al Arabi club.
Media
Unaizah is served by six major Arabic-language newspapers, Al JazeeraAl Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
, Alriyadh, Okaz, Al Watan
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Watan is a leading reformist newspaper in Saudi Arabia. The main production centre is at Abha in the south of the country, close to the Yemen border.-External links:*...
, Al Hayat, Al Yaum, as well as one English-language newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, Arab News
Arab News
Arab News is an English-language daily newspaper published in Saudi Arabia, in the cities of Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. The Editor-in-Chief is Khaled Al-Maeena. The publisher of Arab News is Saudi Research & Publishing Company , a subsidiary of Saudi Research & Marketing Group .Arab News was...
. Unaizah has one local magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, that issues every four months, it is called Paris Nejd, named after the widest spread nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of Unaizah. In addition to many other national and international magazines distributed everywhere in the city's markets.
Television stations serving the city area include Saudi TV1, Saudi TV2, Saudi TV Sports, Al Ekhbariyah, ART channels network
Arab Radio and Television Network
Arab Radio and Television Network is an Arabic-language television network characterized by its multitude of channels. It is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company was founded in October 1993 by Saleh Abdullah Kamel, a Saudi businessman...
and hundreds of cable, satellite and other specialty television providers.
The Ruling Dynasty
The city has been ruled by the Al SulaimAl-Sulaim
Al-Sulaim is the dynasty that has sat on the throne of Unaizah in Saudi Arabia since 1817. They became rulers after prince Yahia bin Sulaim killed the governor appointed by the Ottomans...
family since 1818. They came to power when Prince Yehya Al-Sulaim in 1822 killed the governor appointed by the Ottoman emperor
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, Abdullah Al-Jamei. This dynasty still rules the city according to a written treaty between them and the Saudi royal family
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
. Some of the most famous families in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
originate from Unaizah, including the Al Ghothami, Al Hatlani, Al Sulaiman, Al Hamdan, Al Tamimi, Al Zamil, Al Olayan, Al Bassam, Al Gadhi,Alsaloom, Al Subaiee, Al Senany, Al Mansour, Al Yahya, Al Thukair, Al Turki, Al Shoshan, Al Shubaili, Al Shebel, Al Damigh, Al Othaimeen, Al Malloohi, Al Marzooki, Al Manei, Al Se'di, Al Abeeki, Al Khwaiter, Al Sowayil, Al Daffaa, Al Jaffali, Al Dukhayyel, Al Dakheel, Al Abdeli, Al Suhaimi, Al Ohali families and many others.
Unaizah Notables
- AbdAllah Al-Senany: An outstanding poet, educator, and calligrapher. He was called "the Prince of pretty poetry" by Dr. AbdulKarim Al-Asa'ad, a well known Arabic literature professor.
(http://archive.al-jazirah.com.sa/2007jaz/jun/4/cu6.htm)
- Dr. Azzam Al-Kadi, a Laparoscopic and Trauma Surgeon, a public figure ,and an assistant professor at Al Qassim University.
- Dr. Mohammad Al-Sebayel, the first Arab surgeon to perform a human liver transplant.
- AbdulAziz Al Hazzaa, a pioneer comedianComedianA comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
famous by his different voice levels. - Musa'ad Al-Senany, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs / governor of (GOSI), the General Organization for Social Insurance.
- AbdAllah Al Nuaim, Riyadh city manager /vice presidrnt, King Saud University /Founder and President of the Board of Trustees, King Fahad National Library.
- Dr. AbdulAziz Al Nuaim, member of the Saudi Shura CouncilConsultative Assembly of Saudi ArabiaThe Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia also known as Majlis as-Shura or Shura Council is the formal advisory body of Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy. It cannot pass or enforce laws, a power reserved for the King. The Consultative Assembly has limited powers in government, including...
. - AbdAllah Al Hamdan, a GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
at the Saudi Air Force. - AbdAllah bin Sulaiman Al Hamdan, Prime minister, minister of Finance/ Top Assistant and Advisor to King AbdulAziz.
- Dr. AbdAllah Al Shebel, president of Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University.
- Eng. AbdulAziz Al Zamil, minister of Industry and Electricity.
- Dr. AbdalRahman Al Subeit, vice president of the Saudi Arabian National GuardSaudi Arabian National GuardThe Saudi Arabian National Guard is a separate military force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force...
. - AbdalRahman Abalkhail, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and Ambassador to [Egypt].
- Dr. Yusef Al-Othaimeen, current Minister of Social Affairs.
- Dr. Mohammad Al-Sowayel, president, King AbdalAziz City for Science and Technology.
- Dr. Ahmad Al Dubayan, dircetor of the islamic cultural centre in LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. - Ali Al Khayat, a famous poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. - Abdullah Al Shoshan, a famous poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. - Ibrahim Al Sowayel, former Saudi ambassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - Eng. Yusef Al-Bassam, President of the Saudi Development Fund (International Aid).
- Lubna Al Olayan, Chairperson of "Olayan Financing Co."
- Muhammad Al Shubeili, former Saudi ambassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Malaysia, IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and others. - Muhammad Al Zughaiby, minister of Transportation.
- Dr. Nassir Al-Saloom, minister of transportantation
- Saleh Al Abbad, former chief of the Saudi Royal Court.
- Saleh Al Nugaidan, a famous draughtsmanDrawingDrawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
, painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and photographer. - Sulaiman S. OlayanSulaiman S. OlayanSulaiman Saleh Olayan was among Saudi Arabia's wealthiest businessmen.-Life and Achievements:Orphaned at age six, Olayan had more humble beginnings than most of his business counterparts from the Kingdom...
, one of Saudi Arabia's leading businessmen whose autobiography is titled "From Unaizah to Wall Street." - Dr. Sulaiman Al Sulaim, Minister of Commerce.
- Abdulrahman Rashed Alkhayat, (retired) Royal Saudi naval force "Admiral"
Unaizah in the news
Unaizah made national headlines during the last 60 years because of its pioneering spirit. This city takes pride in the fact that it produced pioneers and experts in many professions, top poets, ambassadors, national civil servants and businessmen more than most Saudi cities.The first non-governmental literary society/club in the kingdom was established in Unaizah in 1953, and in 1921, the first public school in Najed was established.
Unaizah is well known for its hospitality, hence, there are a variety of tourism Festivals in the year. These include dates, and healthy crops festivals. There is also a bi-annual cultural festival which is a trademark for this city.
It was the only city of the Nejd region to invite a Saudi Shiite cleric to speak in a public event, in a grass-roots effort to promote a united national identity. This drew criticism from conservatives in neighboring cities.
External links
- Information about the city
- Unaizah unofficial site (ParisNajd)
- Unaizah's Department of Education
- Unaizah's Technological College
- Sheikh Abdulrahman Bin Sedi Secondary School
- Unaizah's largest forums online
- Dakkat Unaizah forums
- Youth of Unaizah forums
- Unaizah's poets forums
- Janah (a district in Unaizah) Forums