On the caravan road
Unaizah lies about 28 km from Buraydah, south of Wadi al-Rummah, with the al-Ghumais sands to its north and west. Saudipedia calls it the oldest city in al-Qassim. Home to about 184,644 people in the 2022 census, it was a stopover for trade and pilgrim caravans travelling from Iraq to Makkah.
Its Grand Mosque minaret, built of mud in 1890, rises 23 m. It narrows from 5.75 m across at the base to 1.75 m at the top, with walls about 1 m thick and a spiral stair climbing through four storeys.
Market and merchant house
Al-Musawkaf, the old covered market, was demolished in 1968 and rebuilt in its original style in 2009. Its 52 shops sell handicrafts, auctions of antiques, utensils and old swords are held there, and it hosts the al-Hanaini Festival for the winter date dish.
Beside it, near the old western gate, stands the al-Bassam Heritage House, built in the 1950s of mud on stone foundations, with 30 rooms over two floors. It now hosts heritage and social events and is open to visitors daily.