Why this Saudi city is called ‘Paris of Najd’?

“Here the people are free, their prince treats them like he would him self, and the people of Onaiza enjoy impressive civil freedom, their leaders would not be arrogant to them, their poorest man may oppose the prince.” This is what Daute wrote about 139 years ago, specifically in the summer of 1878 in his book on the society in northern Najd, the central region of Saudi Arabia.

In his book, Dauti never stopped praising Onaiza and its people: “They are civilized people elegant in their clothes, their food and their treatment, and even their way of walking, moving and greeting each other gently with a smile”

Follwoing Dauti, Philby was eager to enter Onaiza. Philby’s travel companions entered Onaiza with King Abdulaziz on 23 August 1918.

Philby said: “I have already heard a lot about the difference between Onaiza and other cities of Najd. About the generosity of its people, their welcoming to strangers and that they lack any religious or sectarian fanaticism. But I must admit that the real experience surprised and amazed me. I suddenly felt that I came from a primitive world to a civilized one, with an advanced culture, where the stranger inside the walls of the city receives hospitality more than can he imagine. Rather than being questioned or suspicious as a guest to the inhabitants of the whole city.”

“It is truly the jewel of the Arab cities,” he said, adding that the leaders of Onaiza exaggerate the bestowal of their generosity without any tolerance, and their hospitality is not only generous but also in the highest taste and style.

This famous name that the Lebanese traveler Amin Al-Rihani called Onaiza, he entered Onaiza a while after Philby, about (97 years ago) , specifically since the day that Al-Rihani was captured by the word “ please have coffe” , which he mentioned a lot in his book and called it the kind word.

Al-Rihani did not only call it Paris of Najd , but he also called it several titles : “Onaiza the pole of taste , owner of Al-Qassim, castle of freedom, and the destination of the travelers from different directions”

He added: “Onaiza is the pole of taste and literature, Paris of Najd , it is more beautiful that Paris if you looked at it from Al Safraa, because Paris does not have neither palms nor the golden sand of An Nafud desert it is prettier than Paris , when you see it , it is small with colourful scenery , as if it is a pearl in a golden plate surrounded with lapis lazuli.”

Al-Rihani continued describing Onaiza in way that the writers said that Onaiza charmed him, with its beauty and treatment.

Youssef al-Wuhaib, secretary of the tourist committee in Onaiza, said that the characteristics recorded by the travelers who came to Onaiza made it a constant focus of attention despite the pessimistic view of some orientalists about the community in Najd.

Al-Wuhayeb, who traces the old and the new history of Onaizah, pointed out that he found many initiatives that distinguished Onaiza from other cities, some of them were related to businessmen, as well as intellectuals and initiators in various fields.

Onaiza still has its four gates in the middle of the streets, as well as palm fields and is rebuilding its popular historical market Al-Mswkef by an initiative form al- Zamil family. While the Jafali family ensured the construction of the city of Onaiza for humanitarian services to receive treatment seekers in many humanitarian cases.

As for the literary and cultural side, an annual festival is held in the name of the Onaiza Cultural Festival and the Ibn Saleh Cultural Center was established.

Onaiza is almost the only governerate that has launched a major project for about 15 years ago to preserve the trees of Ghada so the Nfud desert became one of the best conserved wild sites in Saudi Arabia.

Anaiza celebrates annually a huge festival of Ghada aimed at preserving and caring for the environment.

On the other hand, a folkloric arts group is opening its doors to visitors and interested in the colors of folk art at Anaiza in a permanent residence built by the community in Onaiza.