11th Local Dates Festival honours partners, winners

Doha, Qatar - The Ministry of Municipality has celebrated the achievements of the 11th Local Dates Festival 2026, recognizing the contributions of participating entities, winners, and supporting organisations. The festival, which saw sales of over 183 tonnes of local dates and 8.7 tonnes of seasonal fruits, was marked by a ceremony attended by officials from various departments, including undersecretaries and directors-general.

Assistant Undersecretary for Agriculture and Food Security Affairs, Yousef Khalid Al Khulaifi, highlighted the festival's role in supporting Qatar's agricultural sector and promoting local produce. The event featured a documentary showcasing the festival's milestones, activities, and the collaborative efforts to ensure its success. This year's festival welcomed 125 local farms, with sales of locally produced seasonal fruits exceeding 8.7 tonnes.

The Ministry of Municipality honoured several organisations, including Souq Waqif Management, the General Directorate of Zakat, the Ministry of Public Health, Al Rayyan Media and Marketing Company, and various shopping malls. Departments from the Ministry that contributed to the festival's organization were also recognized, as were the judging committee and the winners in multiple categories.

Assistant Undersecretary Al Khulaifi expressed gratitude to all contributors, affirming the Ministry's commitment to further developing future editions of the festival. The event continues to strengthen Qatar's agricultural sector and food security strategy by providing direct marketing outlets for local farmers and encouraging improvements in production quality.