Visitors can explore the wide variety of locally grown dates at Souq Waqif

The fourth Local Dates Festival, which opens Tuesday (July 23) at Souq Waqif, is expected to be a major attraction of the Summer in Qatar (SiQ).

Running until August 3, the festival, organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and the Souq Waqif management, will feature over a dozen local varieties of dates from more than 80 local farms – nearly quadruple the number of participants from the previous year.

The fourth Local Dates Festival, which will run from 4pm to 10pm daily, is part of a wider initiative to promote home-grown products, providing local producers with a platform to market their goods and reach newer consumers.

The SiQ, curated by the Qatar National Tourism Council, is part of a wider strategy to diversify offerings for both residents and visitors in Qatar, showcasing local businesses and providing authentic experiences and traditional products.

The SiQ includes a plethora of retail offerings across participating malls, as well as entertainment for all, summer camps for children and youth, thrilling experiences and sporting tournaments, in addition to exciting travel and hospitality promotions running until August 16.