The 17-day Local Dates Festival all set to open at the Souq Waqif today

If you are a fan of local dates, then you had better visit the Souq Waqif soon.

The third edition of the Local Dates Festival will be inaugurated by the Minister of Municipality and Environment (MME) HE Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi today, reported Gulf Times.

The Local Dates Festival, organised by the MME’s Agriculture Affairs Sector under the sponsorship of Souq Waqif management, will run for 17 days and conclude on August 4. 

Dates festival activities, organized by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in cooperation with the Department of Souq Waqif, will begin on Thursday in Souq Waqif and will continue until August 4th

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) July 18, 2018

The festival also aims to raise awareness of farmers in Qatar about the latest farming methods, as well as how to take care of palm trees and enhance quality of dates by providing them a platform for exchange of ideas and expertise, according to Qatar Tribune. 

Furthermore, it seeks to encourage healthy competition among local farmers. 

The festival will introduce residents to a wide variety of locally produced dates — Khallas, Khnezi, Burhi and Shishi.