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  Saudi Arabia / Cities and Towns /
Buraydah
Arabic:
burayda
Other spelling: Buraidah
City and oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia with 350,000 inhabitants (2003 estimate). It is the capital of Qassim Province with 1.1 million inhabitants (2003 estimate).
In Buraydah, agriculture is still the cornerstone of the economy. The traditional oasis products of dates, lemons, oranges and other fruits is still important. Modern introduction of wheat production has become so successful that Buraydah is one of the largest producers in the kingdom, important in making Saudi Arabia a net exporter of cereal. Livestock raising has also been introduced, being done on large experimental farms.
Buraydah has good road connections with other urban centres of Saudi Arabia.
While largely a modern town, Buraydah still has some quarters of traditional Najdi mud-brick houses.
History
Together with the smaller city of Unayzah, has Buraydah since long had its distinctive history in the middle of the inhospitable desert. For long, the two settlements were in control of both the export of Arab horses and the caravan trade across Arabia.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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