The world’s largest dates festival is in full swing in Buraidah.

Brisk business is being reported daily, as hundreds of tons of high-quality dates, harvested in the Qassim region, are being brought into the festival.

The farming community in Qassim, which was once renowned for harvesting quality wheat, now harvests the “Sukkari” type of dates, considered one of the most popular kinds, both in the Kingdom and in the Gulf region at large.

“The dates festival in Buraidah is not only an event, but a lifeline for thousands of farmers and youth who depend on the income generated from the cultivation and farming of this gem,” Mohammed Al-Harbi of the Buraidah festival told Arab News.

“We receive 1,000 vehicles loaded with dates daily and have provided employment for nearly 2,500 people, who do anything, from loading and unloading produce to selling dates at the market,” he said.

“We have noted a 12-percent sales increase compared with previous years. The dates festival has made over SR125 million in sales over the past few days alone.”

“In fact, sales are expected to further increase from Monday and last two weeks. This is considered peak season for the market.”

More than 25 million kg of dates are being sold at the festival, with prices ranging from SR25 to SR50 per kilo depending upon quality.

The Sukkari type comprises more than 95 percent of all dates, he said.

“Nevertheless, 77 percent of what we receive is of first-class caliber thanks to farmers deploying scientific harvest methods to maintain the quality, taste and color of the produce.”

Al-Harbi also said that the festival will be inaugurated by Deputy Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal on Thursday.

“Last year’s festival recorded a record SR1.4 billion in sales,” he said.

The Qassim Municipality maintains the market, which spans 300,000 sqm, accommodating thousands of trucks and long, refrigerated trailers and boasting vast loading areas.

Buraidah’s dates market is the largest in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The Qassim region has around 7 million dates palm plantations, the highest of any region.

The Ministry of Agriculture encourages palm tree-farming, allocates land and helps farmers purchase farming equipment.

The ministry also provides farmers with long-term loans through the Saudi Arabian Agricultural Bank and provides temporary visas during harvesting season.

Expatriates used to have a free hand in the dates market, but Saudi youth have taken over the scene during the past two years, restricting the role of expats in the industry.

Buraidah’s dates festival is a major generator of income for the Qassim region, in which agriculture and palm cultivation are prime activity.