ThePlace: Buraidah is the capital of Al-Qassim

Saudi Arabia is a leading producer of dates and the area around Buraidah is known for its large swathes of date palm trees. (SPA)

• Farmers, traders and consumers descend on the town, known locally as "the city of dates", in the central Qassim region
• The city of dates sells annually about 300,000 tonnes

Buraidah is the capital of Al-Qassim region in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. The region is known for its agricultural value to Saudi Arabia. In Buraidah, agriculture is still the cornerstone of the economy.
Traditional oasis products of dates, lemons, oranges and other fruits are still important. The modern introduction of wheat production has become so successful that Buraidah is one of the largest producers in the Kingdom, contributing to making Saudi Arabia a net exporter of cereal.
The region hosts more than 8 million palm trees, which produce 205,000 tons of luxury dates annually that are exported regionally and internationally.
Buraidah is surrounded by hills and sandy plateaus. Its agricultural land is very fertile due to the ease of extracting water from the surface, which is covered with a layer of limestone and gypsum rocks.
Buraidah is famous for its dates, and holds an annual date market that usually starts in August and lasts up to two or three months. It is the biggest date market in the world in terms of supply, and offers more than 30 varieties.