35,000 Daily Visitors to "Buraidah Kleija" Transform Folk Heritage into an Economic and Tourism Lever

The large turnout at the "Buraidah Kleija 17" festival has successfully achieved the transformation targeted by Vision 2030, shifting cultural events from a purely celebratory setting to one that fosters investment and development. This is accomplished by preserving cultural identity and transforming folk heritage into a sustainable tourism and economic driver.

The remarkable and massive visitor numbers, reaching nearly 35,000 daily, have become a recurring sight, filling the corridors of the festival grounds in King Khalid Cultural Square in Buraidah.

This high attendance extends to the festival's entrances and exits, as well as the surrounding roads and plazas, reflecting the festival's prominence in the community's consciousness and its ability to attract a wide range of visitors from within and outside the region.

According to the Secretary-General of the Qassim Chamber of Commerce and Industry and General Supervisor of the Kleija Festival, Mr. Mohammed Al-Hanaya, field monitoring and close tracking of crowd management, passenger shuttle buses, and other relevant factors indicate that the expected daily number of visitors is approaching 35,000.

He pointed out that this figure has multiple developmental implications, not only in terms of attendance but also in terms of the resulting economic activity, significant commercial activity, and opportunities to support productive families, entrepreneurs, and artisans. It also stimulates the accommodation, hospitality, services, transportation, and food services sectors in Buraidah and the region's governorates.

Al-Hanaya emphasized that this daily momentum reflects the fruitful support and attention the festival receives from His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Qassim Region, and demonstrates the festival's success in achieving its national and developmental goals.

He explained that the festival is no longer just a traditional heritage event, but has become a national platform reflecting the goals of Vision 2030 in enhancing the economic value of heritage, empowering local communities, and creating attractive cultural, tourism, and entertainment experiences that contribute to diversifying income sources. This reflects the successful integration of professional organization, high-quality content, and institutional partnerships.

Al-Hanaya also emphasized that the organizing and crowd management teams continue to work according to the highest standards to ensure smooth traffic flow and visitor safety, thus enhancing the visitor experience and reinforcing the civilized image of national events. He affirmed that the achieved successes represent a further step in establishing the Kleija Festival as a pillar of cultural and tourism development in the Kingdom and a distinguished showcase for the Qassim region on the national events map.