8th Local Dates Festival at Souq Waqif from Thursday

The 8th Local Dates Festival will start on Thursday at Souq Waqif where all arrangements have been made for the eagerly-awaited annual event.
To be attended by more than 90 local farms, the festival, according to a press statement from the Souq Waqif Celebrations Committee at the Private Engineering Office, will run at Souq Waqif’s Al Ahmed Square until August 5. The festival is open for the public daily from 3pm to 9pm, except for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, when it is open until 10pm.
“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. It’s held in conjunction with the season of date production in the country. Also, the festival, which is part of the efforts to achieve food security, is held with the interest and support of the Souq Waqif Organising Committee to develop the agricultural sector and support farm owners and those interested in palm cultivation. The festival aims to upgrade the varieties of dates in Qatar,” the press statement said.
Khaled Saif al-Suwaidi, general supervisor of the festival, said all arrangements are in place at the place designated for the festival. “The tent is all set to receive the public at Al Ahmad Square," he said.
Al-Suwaidi said the Souq is distinguished as an important tourist attraction for citizens, residents and tourists alike. “Also, its unique location in the middle of Doha makes it accessible to all,” he noted.
Al-Suwaidi added that the 8th edition is set to witnesses the participation of local farms with date and palm products that are produced locally.
The general supervisor explained that the Celebrations Committee has launched a competition for the best local dates for the first time. Rewards will be distributed to the first three winners as a gesture of support from the committee for the farmers while supporting and encouraging the production of the best local dates.