Janadriyah, 42 km northeast of Riyadh, is the venue for Saudi Arabia's national festival of heritage and culture. A colourful festival, held in the winter season every year, which normally falls during the month of February or March. Janadriyah Festival, as it is called, is a rich cultural presentation of the past and present Saudi Arabia. It highlights the culture and heritage of the country which, for the new generation, is a window to the vibrant past.

Long ago, Janadriyah was known as "Rowdhat Souwais" and was mentioned by numerous historians and writers. Though Janadriyah Festival started as a camel race, today, it represents a crossroads where poetry, intellect, culture, art, theatre, as well as heritage and history meet.

For the route to Janadriyah, please proceed to the last page of this section

The Vision of the Unifier

The vision behind Janadriyah Festival was conceived by the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al Faisal Al Saud (also known as 'Ibn Saud').

The festival, for the first time, was inaugurated by the late King Fahad Ibn Abdul Aziz in 1985.

Incessant participation!

This flow of the local and foreign population to the festival village is persistent until its conclusion which lasts for more than two weeks.

The treasure market

For most of the visitors, this can be a major attraction. These markets outside the festival walls have antique treasures of ornaments, crockery and the like. The bottom part of this picture is an antique Yemeni Gaza, an oil lamp used in olden times.

Colours and Colours!

Janadriyah Festival hosts sellers from all over the country to display and sell their products, mostly handicrafts.