The 11th Local Dates Festival at Souq Waqif continues to attract large numbers of residents, with shoppers flocking to the venue to buy freshly harvested Qatari dates directly from local farms.
This trend, it is learnt, highlights a sustained public interest in homegrown produce and support for the country’s agricultural sector.Running until August 10 at Souq Waqif's Eastern Square, the festival has become a busy marketplace where visitors browse a wide selection of locally grown dates, compare varieties and prices, and purchase directly from growers.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Municipality in co-operation with Souq Waqif Management, brings together 125 local farms – the largest participation since the festival was launched in 2016 – offering varieties such as Khalas, Khunaizi, Shishi and Barhi, along with seasonal Qatari fruits including figs, papaya, limes and almonds.
Since its launch on July 25, the festival has seen busy aisles, shoppers examining neatly packaged dates, and families exploring traditional displays decorated with palm fronds and fresh date clusters, highlighting its appeal as both a marketplace and a cultural attraction.
According to the Ministry of Municipality, the festival forms part of ongoing efforts to support local farmers, promote Qatari agricultural products and encourage consumers to purchase locally grown dates.
It also provides producers with an opportunity to market their harvest directly to consumers, improving returns while strengthening links between farms and the public. The festival comes as Qatar continues to strengthen domestic agricultural production. The Ministry of Municipality said national date production reached approximately 24,000 tonnes in 2025, supported by technical assistance, pest-control programmes, improved irrigation technologies and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and productivity of date palm cultivation.
Dates remain one of Qatar's strategic agricultural crops and an important component of the country's food security strategy. The ministry added that Qatari dates are promoted through local agricultural markets, retail outlets and annual events such as the Local Dates Festival, allowing farmers to showcase and sell their produce at competitive prices while increasing consumer awareness of local products.
The festival's popularity mirrors the steady expansion of Qatar's agricultural sector.
From just 19 participating farms in its inaugural edition in 2016, the event has grown to 125 farms this year, reflecting increasing investment in local agriculture and greater confidence among producers in the annual festival as a marketing platform. Previous editions have also demonstrated strong public support. The 10th Local Dates Festival attracted more than 90,600 visitors and recorded sales exceeding 170 tonnes of dates, underscoring the event's growing role in promoting sustainable consumption, preserving agricultural heritage and supporting Qatar's food security objectives.