Unaizah (Arabic: عنيزة, also spelled Onaizah, Onizah, or Unayzah) is a city and governorate in the Al Qassim Province of Saudi Arabia. Located at approximately 26°5′26″ N 43°59′15″ E, it lies south of the provincial capital Buraydah and about 300 km north of Riyadh, the national capital. As of the 2022 census, Unaizah had a population of 184,600, making it the second‑largest city in Al Qassim.
History
Unaizah historically served as a key stopover for Muslim pilgrims traveling from Mesopotamia and Persia to Mecca. References to the settlement appear in pre‑Islamic Arabic poetry, suggesting habitation prior to the spread of Islam.
Geography
The city is situated in the central Najd region, near the northern edge of the Wadi al‑Rummah, the longest valley on the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by sand dunes known locally as the Al‑Ghamis Sands and the Al‑Ghadha Woods to the north. The Al‑Aushaziyah salt lake (Sabkha) is considered part of the municipal area.
Climate
Unaizah experiences a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) with extremely hot summers—average August highs reach 43.6 °C (110.5 °F)—and mild winters. Rainfall is scarce, concentrated mainly in March and April, and the area is prone to occasional dust storms that can reduce visibility dramatically.
Economy and Agriculture
Agriculture is a significant sector; the surrounding region produces wheat, barley, grapes, citrus fruits, pomegranates, and dates. Leeks (kurrat) are a notable local crop. The city hosts the Unaizah International Date Festival each September, regarded as the second‑largest date festival in the Persian Gulf and Middle East.
Government
Unaizah is administered by the Unaizah Municipality, established in 1381 AH (1961/1962 CE). The municipality oversees public services, urban planning, infrastructure development, and regulation of construction projects. It is organized into three agencies: Services, Project Management, and Urbanization & Planning. Since its inception, the municipality has been led by sixteen mayors.
Education
The city has a long tradition of educational development, producing the first Saudi PhD holder from Al‑Qassim (Abdulaziz Al‑Khowaiter) and the first Saudi female PhD holder from the province (Ebtisam Al‑Bassam). Unaizah offers public primary, intermediate, and secondary schools, as well as private and international schools. Higher education institutions include a technological secondary school, a technological college, a girls’ educational college, and proximity to Qassim University, located about 30 km north.
Tourism and Culture
Unaizah is noted for its hospitality and cultural heritage. Historical travelers such as Charles Montagu Doughty and Amin al‑Rihani praised the city’s architecture and arts, with al‑Rihani dubbing it the “Paris of Najd.” Tourist attractions include the Roman Amphitheatre, Al‑Bassam Mansion (built 1955), and several annual festivals recognized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism.
Infrastructure
The city is served by a network of internal ring roads, a municipal website (um.gov.sa), and an area code of +966‑16. Its postal code is 51911.
Unaizah continues to play a prominent role in the cultural, agricultural, and educational landscape of central Saudi Arabia.