In brief
The walled farms—known locally as “hitan” or “falayeh”—of Unaizah in Saudi Arabia’s Qassim Region are turning into tourism and heritage destinations, a Saudi Press Agency report notes. Cafés, restaurants, palm trees and original wells remain, while the farms’ historical role in agriculture and community life has been underscored by local researcher Mohammed Ibrahim Al‑Zunaidi. The transformation preserves the region’s built‑and‑social heritage amid modern urban expansion.
The historic walled farms of Unaizah Governorate in Saudi Arabia’s Qassim Region have been repurposed into tourism and heritage sites, according to a Saudi Press Agency report on November 2, 2026.
The transformation now includes cafés and restaurants set amidst preserved mud‑brick buildings, traditional wells and palm trees, the report states, turning former agricultural hubs into living cultural landmarks.
Al‑Zunaidi, an archaeological researcher, explained that the term hitan means walled farms, which are also called falayeh locally. He added that the farms’ names derived from geographic locations, owners’ family names or distinctive natural features such as wells and cultivated land.
These farms were the backbone of Unaizah’s early residential communities, providing food and employment. Al‑Zunaidi estimated that between 80 % and 90 % of the population historically depended on agriculture directly or indirectly, making the farms crucial to the region’s economic and social life.
The availability of groundwater in Rawdat Unaizah encouraged the expansion of farms and orchards, and the farms’ walls demarcated boundaries that fostered cooperation among residents, Al‑Zunaidi noted.
Today, several of the sites attract both residents and visitors, preserving the original structures while allowing modern uses such as dining and cultural tours, the SPA report adds.
By repurposing these historic farms, Unaizah preserves its agricultural heritage while embracing tourism and economic diversification, the report concludes.
