The third edition of the Dates Festival in Hail region was launched under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Hail, with the attendance of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, and several officials.
The festival, which runs until the end of November, aims to highlight the economic and social role of palm trees in the Kingdom and enhance Hail’s position as one of the most important date-producing regions in the country.
Minister Al-Fadley noted that the Kingdom produces about 1.5 million tons of dates annually, consuming 1.2 million tons locally, while the rest is exported to various countries worldwide.
Director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Hail, Eng. Saleh Al-Mughamis, stated that Hail region has more than 5 million palm trees producing about 75,000 tons of dates annually. He added that the festival contributes to supporting farmers and marketing their products.
The festival, held at the Exhibition and Conference Center in Hail, witnessed a large turnout of visitors who learned about different types of dates and enjoyed accompanying activities, including folklore shows and heritage segments.
Al-Mughamis emphasized that the festival contributes to enhancing agricultural tourism in the region and opens new horizons for investment in the palm and dates sector, expecting this year’s festival to achieve great success, as in the previous two editions.
It is worth mentioning that Hail region is one of the most important palm cultivation areas in the Kingdom, characterized by a suitable climate and fertile soil, making it home to many farms producing the finest types of dates such as Khalas, Sukkari, Ruziz, and other distinguished varieties.