Date farmers at Buraidah seasonal date market sold dates worth more than SR12 million in a single day.
Nearly 1,400 trucks loaded with more than 210 packets of sukkari dates entered the market with a price tag of SR60 per pack.
The festival is registering an increase in sales every day, sometimes exceeding SR25 million a day.
The city receives more than 200,000 tons of the different types of dates, which represent the product of more than seven million palm trees.
The festival lasts 75 days and receives more than 45 types of the most famous dates in the world.
Every year, the festival kicks off in mid-August as a celebration of the harvest, where farmers have been selling their crop at Al-Jeradah market for the last 50 years.
The celebration of the season evolved in terms of its location and the services it provides. Qassim authorities allocated a special space for the festival, in addition to other specialized areas for the commercial activities of dates’ industry.
Ali Al-Faiyzi, one of the biggest farmers in the industry, said that the crop is very good this year in terms of quantity and quality. “Farmers are now savvier with the advanced methods of farming. They give more attention and care to their fields knowing that the industry is making good profits, which sometimes reaches millions,” he added.
He said that job opportunities in the palm and dates industry and seasonal jobs for youth in particular are available so they can boost their income if they wish.
Khaled Al-Naqeedan, CEO of Buraidah Date Festival, said that the beginning of the festival recorded unprecedented figures and provided several job opportunities for Saudis.
“The secretariat of Qassim made available vast courts and locations for the festival, and sites for the operations of packaging and transportation,” he said.
He added that there are trucks to transport dates to several regions in the country.
Authorities in Qassim supervise the packaging process to prevent cheating and to standardize the quantities in each individual pack, almost 3.50 kg a pack.
Buraidah date farmers achieve record sales
Buraidah date farmers achieve record sales
Celestial spectacle in Saudi Arabia’s north on first day of Ramadan
- Venus-crescent moon alignment visible over Northern Borders Region skies
- Meteorology Center completes operational plan for the holy month
ARAR/JEDDAH: The holy month of Ramadan has commenced in Saudi Arabia with a striking astronomical display in the Northern Borders Region, setting a serene tone for the month as meteorological authorities confirmed full readiness to support pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
On Tuesday evening, the skies over Arar witnessed a rare alignment as the planet Venus paired with the slender crescent moon marking the first day of Ramadan. Appearing shortly after sunset, the crescent shimmered low on the western horizon above Venus — one of the brightest celestial bodies — in a display enhanced by clear skies.
While the conjunction is a recurring astronomical phenomenon caused by the apparent proximity of the two bodies as viewed from Earth, its coincidence with the start of the holy month added a special aesthetic and spiritual dimension to the atmosphere in the north, SPA said.
Meteorological readiness
As the faithful began their fasting, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) announced the completion of its operational and technical preparations for Ramadan 1447 AH.
NCM Chief Executive Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam confirmed that the center has finalized a comprehensive plan to ensure round-the-clock weather monitoring for Makkah, Madinah, and the roads leading to the Two Holy Mosques. The initiative aims to provide accurate forecasting to enhance the safety and comfort of the influx of visitors and Umrah pilgrims.
The plan includes heightened performance levels at observatories in the Kingdom’s airports to manage increased flight traffic and aviation safety.
To ensure pilgrims have real-time access to information, the NCM has integrated its data with the "Nusuk" and "Tawakkalna" smart applications. Ten-day extended forecasts and real-time alerts will also be available via the "Anwaa" app and displayed on guidance boards along highways.
The center has mobilized 14 media platforms to deliver swift weather alerts, ensuring high standards of security and logistical support throughout the season.
