Onaizah Date Festival welcomes second harvest with thousands of crates

The Onaizah International Date Festival, known as "Naqwa Onaizah," has entered its second harvest, with local farms now delivering thousands of crates of dates in various varieties to the market grounds each day, reflecting the season’s growing momentum.

Abdulwahab Al-Qahtani, CEO of the company operating the Onaizah International Date Festival, said the second harvest marks the golden phase of the season, with higher quality dates and increased quantities boosting trade and offering shoppers a wider selection.

Al-Qahtani noted that Sukkari dates account for more than 80% of the current supply, as they are among the most popular varieties in the Qassim region due to their high quality, distinctive flavor, and ease of storage and freezing. He added that Sukkari dates are classified into three main grades, with Royal Sukkari being the best, followed by Medium Sukkari and Galaxy, alongside more than 20 other varieties including Barhi, Khalas, Wanana, Rothana, Shaqra, and Umm Khashab.

Qassim: A leading agricultural center for date production

This daily influx of dates highlights the agricultural significance of the Qassim region, which is home to around 12 million palm trees, making it one of the Kingdom’s top date-producing areas. The seasonal harvest also stimulates buying and selling activity and helps promote local production in specialized markets and festivals.