Al‑Arabiya Magazine, Issue 288 — Year 25, Muharram 1422 AH / April 2001
From the Press of the Past
King Saud Inspects Al‑Rass and Buraydah
His Majesty King Saud arrived in Buraydah the day before yesterday, coming from Al‑Rass on an inspection tour to review the conditions of his people and subjects. The journey from Al‑Rass to Buraydah lasted nine continuous hours along a rugged and hot road.
After a brief rest of half an hour, His Majesty visited several notable figures and dignitaries of Buraydah, including Ali Al‑Fahd Al‑Rashoudi and his brothers, Yahya Al‑Shareeda, Abdulaziz Al‑Ibrahim Al‑Hamza, and Colonel Mohammed Al‑Sulayman of the Royal Guard, where he was served coffee and refreshments.
Sheikh Mohammed Al‑Rubdi, the head of the well‑known Al‑Rubdi family, hosted a grand dinner banquet in honor of His Majesty at his farm. The event was attended by a large number of Al‑Qassim’s dignitaries and notables, and His Majesty listened to speeches and poems delivered on this occasion. After dinner, His Majesty returned to the residence prepared for him by the Al‑Rashid family.
Al‑Bilad Newspaper
Monday, 1 Jumada Al‑Awwal 1379 AH / 2 November 1959
Reflections from a Later Generation
The writer recounts that he informed his father—may God preserve him—of news that King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, may God protect him, was expected to visit Al‑Qassim the following month. His father expressed joy, noting that all Saudi kings had visited Al‑Qassim, some staying for days or even months. He recalled that King Abdulaziz visited annually, with his last visit around 1366 AH, and that King Saud visited two or three times, including the well‑remembered visit of 1379 AH. King Faisal, King Khalid, and King Fahd also visited—may God have mercy on them all.
When asked what he remembered most about King Saud’s visit, the father replied that the most significant achievements were the opening of the Grand Mosque, the Buraydah Library, and Buraydah Hospital—all built with reinforced concrete, a modern standard at the time.
The narrator then searched the internet for more information to share in a local forum and found the historical news article reproduced above. Reading it to his father revived memories of the visit, the old airport at Al‑‘Akairishah, and other details.
The father then recounted stories about the dignitaries mentioned in the report—Sheikh Mohammed Al‑Rubdi, the Al‑Rashid family, Ali Al‑Fahd Al‑Rashoudi, Yahya Al‑Shareeda, Abdulaziz Al‑Ibrahim Al‑Hamza, and Colonel Mohammed Al‑Sulayman—describing their generosity, contributions to Buraydah, and the prominent roles they played in society.
He concluded with a heartfelt remark:
“How is it that you no longer know these men or their deeds? Once a man dies, you forget him. That should not be. These men deserve to be remembered, honored, and even have streets named after them so future generations do not forget what they did.”
The narrator ends by promising to ask his father for more stories about the men of Buraydah and their history.