The 18th Al-Jouf International Olive Festival has solidified its position as a key tourism and economic event for both the Kingdom and the Al-Jouf region, attracting significant interest, visitors, tourists, and investment from domestic and international sources.
The current festival, held at the Prince Abdullah Cultural Center in Sakaka from January 2 to 12, features local, regional, and international participants, including olive and oil producers, processing industries, companies, and agricultural associations.
Al-Jouf is renowned as the Kingdom's "land of olives," home to the world’s largest olive farm --according to the Guinness World Records-- and boasting over 23 million trees. These trees produce 150,000 tons of table olives annually, processed by approximately 30 local presses producing premium olive oil. The region encompasses over 16,000 olive farms and cultivation projects.
The festival also supports families working in cottage industry, entrepreneurs, and small businesses by providing dedicated spaces to showcase their products, fostering growth and expanding their reach to consumers and partners.
Festival CEO Omar bin Abdulaziz Al-Hamwan noted the festival’s established status as an Al-Jouf icon, embodying its unique position in olive and olive oil production, yielding over 20,000 tons of oil annually—equivalent to 80% of the Kingdom's total production.
The festival’s international appeal is evident in the participation of seven countries this year: Spain, Italy, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Palestine.
This year’s event features 45 farmers and five agricultural companies, alongside Al-Jouf Municipality laboratory, which has conducted over 2,100 tests on samples from participating farmers, analyzing over 40 tons of oil and seven tons of table olives for acidity, rancidity, and metal content. Products meeting these standards receive a certification label, confirming their safety and suitability for display.
The festival also showcases Saudi heritage and culture through folk art performances, the Saudi Ardah, traditional fashion and handicrafts such as Sadu weaving, as well as plastic arts, poetry, and cultural evenings.