8th Dates Festival begins at Souq Waqif

The 8th Local Dates Festival started Thursday at Souq Waqif, featuring agrobiodiversity and showcasing the best varieties of dates produced in Qatar. The first day of the festival saw crowds thronging Al Ahmed Square to buy farm fresh dates at fair prices.Khaled Saif al-Suwaidi, general supervisor of the festival, told Gulf Times that the festival is expected to witness the sale of 15 tonnes of dates a day. "The festival is a place to get fresh dates for every one. Good sale is expected and we are set to deliver the needs of the buyers. More dates will be brought from farms if the demand exceeds the stock,” he said.A total of 103 farms are part of the festival that sells local varieties including Al Khalas, Al Khenaizi, Al Shishi, Al Barhi, Al Saqai, Al Razizi, Nabt Saif and Al Lulu. Date syrup is also available. Date juice and ice cream have turned out to be the favourite of visitors with many opting to try them at counters inside the tent. Al-Suwaidi said seven companies are part of the festival while selling their products. The festival this year has also selling points for locally grown farm fresh figs that draw many visitors.From charming date decors to seatings, the Souq Waqif Celebrations Committee at the Private Engineering Office has made all arrangements inside the festival tent.Al-Suwaidi noted that the festival comes within the framework of the great interest that Qatar attaches to supporting and encouraging local production of all national products including dates. He added the festival is being held in conjunction with the season of date production in the country.To run until August 5, the festival receives the public daily from 3pm until 9pm, except for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when it is open until 10pm.Al-Suwaidi explained that the Celebrations Committee at the Private Engineering Office has launched a competition for the best local dates for the first time. He added that rewards will be distributed to the first three winners as a gesture of support from the committee towards the farmers while supporting and encouraging the production of the best local dates.ENDS...