The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) recently moved to restore Al-Sabakh farms, situated on some of the oldest and most famous palm fields in the Qassim region, by developing facilities and paths for public use in partnership with the Qassim Municipality.

Some of the date palms that align the city date back 150 years.

The recent Buraidah Date Festival revived one of the fields in the region by conducting events and activities at a small farm in the area.

Tourism developers hope that the location will be restructured and turned into a public park, as it is located in the center of Buraidah’s old city and lies within close proximity to important landmarks.

Abdulaziz Al-Reesh, a tenant at Al-Sabakh Farms, said it is very easy to rehabilitate the location. He hoped that the Qassim governorate would form a committee to develop the site. “We saw how the site attracted visitors during the festival.”

Jasser Al-Harbash, executive director of SCTA in Qassim, said the development of the location and other rural locations are included in the tourism development plan and that priority would be given to Al-Sabakh Farms.

“We have already embarked on the development of this location with the cooperation of the Qassim Municipality,” said Al-Harbas, expressing hope that landowners would cooperate with authorities for the success of the project.

Abdulla Al-Ayiaf, head of the Cooperative Society for Date Producers, said Al-Sabakh Farms would soon witness an important investment in the agro-tourism sector in view of the beauty of the location.