Buraidah City, the capital of Al Qassim Region, will host the 16th edition of Kleija Festival, from January 31 to February 9, 2025, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The annual event will take place under the patronage of the Qassim Region’s Governor, Prince Faisal bin Mishal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, with the participation of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission as a strategic partner.
The Kleija Festival aims to offer an enriching cultural experience for Al Qassim’s residents and tourists from across the world, by presenting the traditional Saudi culinary arts and celebrating Kleija as the official traditional dish of Al Qassim Region.
#SaudiCulinaryArtsCommission participates as a strategic partner in the 16th edition of the Klija Festival, aiming to highlight the region's cultural heritage and showcase Klija as a signature dish of Al-Qassim. pic.twitter.com/MHX9DVDcik
— هيئة فنون الطهي (@MOCCulinary) January 30, 2025
This year’s edition of Kleija Festival will kick off in Buraidah, one of the UNESCO’s Creative Cities. The festival will showcase Saudi Arabia’s unique culinary arts, particularly Kleija. It also aims to support productive families by highlighting their products at live cooking shows; hospitality lounges; bakery, factory, and company exhibitions; and food trucks.
The Kleija Festival will also involve other activities that include a variety of live cultural and entertainment performances aimed at creating a rich and engaging experience.
Kleija is the signature dessert of Al Qassim, blending Saudi traditional flavors. It has chewy soft dough stuffed with ingredients such as dates, cardamom, and black lemon, with a crispy outer layer.
The participation of the Saudi Culinary Arts Commission in the Kleija Festival 2025 is part of its effective strategy to support culinary events and festivals across the Kingdom.
The Culinary Arts Commission efforts include the Community Engagement and Local Food Festival Program, which contributes to supporting food festivals across Saudi Arabia’s various regions to deliver a local food experience with an international style, celebrating Saudi traditional dishes as an essential heritage element.
