Buraidah’s Klija Festival Goes Global as Qassim Governor Approves International Renaming

Qassim Region Governor Prince Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz has officially approved renaming the Klija Festival to the International Klija Festival in Buraidah, effective from its next edition. This decision follows years of sustained growth, high attendance, and the festival’s success in modernizing the region’s traditional culinary products to compete on regional and global levels.

 The rebranding reflects the festival’s organizational maturity and its expanding diplomatic footprint. The current edition already features international participants from Egypt, Türkiye, and Morocco, signaling its evolution into a cross-cultural platform. By attaining international status, the festival aims to attract even broader global expertise while continuing to highlight Qassim’s unique cultural identity in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

 Prince Faisal emphasized that the festival serves as a successful model for transforming local initiatives into global economic engines. Beyond its cultural value, the event plays a vital role in supporting families working in the cottage industry, creating job opportunities, and boosting local economic activity.