Here's Why You Should Visit the Souq Waqif Local Dates Festival

With more than 100 farms from Qatar participating, the eighth edition of the prominent Souq Waqif Local Dates Festival got off to a roaring start on Thursday at Al Ahmed Square.

14 different sorts of dates are being offered at the event, and Qatari residents are rushing there to get them. The 10-day celebration will last until August 5. The public is welcome at the festival every day from 3 pm to 9 pm. The Festival will be open until 10:00 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Khaled Saif Al Suwaidi, General Supervisor of the Festival, said, “This year’s Festival goes beyond the traditional offering of fresh dates for purchase. The visitors also have the option of buying from a diverse array of date-based products including cakes, tarts, smoothies, jams, and juices. This year, we have the most number of farms participating, which is also a huge positive.”

Local date types such as Al Khalas, Al Khenaizi, Al Shishi, Al Barhi, Al Saqai, Al Razizi, Nabt Saif, and Al Lulu will be available at the festival. Additionally, a distinctive space featuring fruits and plants has been added, giving the festival more depth and variety.

Dates may be purchased at very reasonable costs, with the lowest being QAR6 per kilogram and the highest being QAR25 for three kilos. A kilo of Khalas dates costs QAR10, a kilo of Khinaizi costs QAR8, and a kilo of Nabth Saif, Lou Lou, Raziz, or Gor costs QAR6.