Doha, Qatar: Qatar has achieved a fresh date self-sufficiency rate of more than 75 percent, with local farms producing over 26,000 tonnes annually, marking significant progress in strengthening national agricultural production and supporting the country’s food security objectives.
The achievement is underpinned by 885 productive farms cultivating more than 638,000 date palms, highlighting the growing capacity of Qatar’s agricultural sector to meet domestic demand while expanding the availability and diversity of locally grown fresh dates. The steady growth of Qatar’s date production is being supported by government initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural productivity, improving marketing opportunities and encouraging consumers to choose national products. Among the most prominent platforms supporting these efforts is the 11th Local Fresh Dates Festival, currently being held at the Eastern Square of Souq Waqif.
Organised by the Ministry of Municipality in cooperation with the Souq Waqif Administration, the festival will continue until August 10, 2026, bringing together a wide range of Qatari farms specialising in fresh date production.
The event offers visitors an opportunity to explore the quality and diversity of locally produced dates while providing farmers with a direct platform to showcase and market their harvest.
The festival forms part of the Ministry of Municipality’s continued efforts to support Qatari farmers, enhance the marketing of local agricultural products and strengthen the position of Qatari fresh dates as an important national product. Such initiatives contribute to the development of the agricultural sector and support Qatar’s broader objectives in food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The expansion of organised marketing channels is also reflected in the growth of quantities supplied through the date purchasing programme.
The volume of dates supplied under the programme reached 860 tonnes in 2025, up from 513 tonnes when the initiative was launched.
The increase demonstrates the growing role of structured purchasing programmes in creating reliable marketing channels for farmers and strengthening the integration between local production and the domestic market.
The Local Fresh Dates Festival has developed into an annual event anticipated by farmers and the public alike. In addition to providing a dedicated marketplace for local farms, it raises public awareness of the importance of the agricultural sector and encourages greater consumption of national products. The 11th edition features a broad selection of high-quality local fresh date varieties, alongside a range of seasonal fruits. The festival programme includes daily competitions, incentive prizes, cultural activities and awareness programmes designed to appeal to visitors and families.
The Ministry of Municipality has emphasised its commitment to developing the festival from one edition to another in order to provide an enhanced experience for farmers and visitors while keeping pace with the continued growth of Qatar’s agricultural sector.
