Buraidah, 1 Sha'ban 1447 AH (20 January 2026)

The 17th Buraidah Kleija Festival has recorded a striking daily attendance of around 30,000 visitors at its venue in King Khalid Cultural Square in Buraidah, an achievement that reflects its standing as one of the Kingdom's foremost heritage festivals with cultural and economic reach.

The festival has moved cultural events beyond a traditional celebratory frame into an investment and development space, preserving cultural identity while turning folk heritage into a sustainable tourism and economic asset that supports the local economy and industries linked to food heritage.

Mohammed Al-Hanaya, Secretary General of the Qassim Chamber and general supervisor of the festival, said the large turnout reflects the support and follow-up of Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Qassim, and demonstrates the festival's success in meeting its national and development goals.

The Kleija Festival, he said, has grown beyond a traditional heritage event to become a national platform aligned with Vision 2030's goals of maximising the economic value of heritage, empowering the local community and creating attractive cultural, tourism and entertainment experiences, a success built on professional organisation, quality content and effective institutional partnerships.

In response to the strong turnout, the Governor of Qassim directed that the festival be extended by a full week and renamed this edition from Buraidah Kleija Festival 17 to the International Kleija Festival in Buraidah, in light of international participation from Turkey, Morocco and Egypt, which added a global cultural and culinary dimension and strengthened the festival's capacity to attract international experiences and exchange expertise.