Buraydah Dates Carnival Hits $4.8M in First Week

The Buraydah Dates Carnival in Al-Qassim has recorded strong opening sales, posting SR17.9 million (about $4.8 million) in its first week alone, with roughly 2,110,578 kilograms of dates sold. The event runs from 1 August to 14 October 2026 beside Al-Nakhl Center, south of Buraydah, daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

The carnival is one of the Kingdom's largest seasonal date markets, and this year's edition spans a full 75-day season, giving farmers, traders, and visitors an extended window to buy and sell across dozens of local varieties.

The National Center for Palms and Dates is the national body linked to the event, which brings together producers from across Al-Qassim, a region long recognized as a heartland of Saudi date farming.

Why it matters

The early figures point to steady demand for Saudi dates at both the household and commercial level. For residents and expats in Riyadh, Jeddah, and beyond, carnivals like this one are a practical way to buy fresh, seasonal dates directly from growers, often at competitive prices and in a wide range of grades.

The extended 75-day run also gives families more flexibility to visit during the cooler evening hours, while supporting local farmers and the wider agricultural economy. No official entry fee or ticket pricing was announced for the event.

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