More than 800,000 people have visited the Buraidah Date Festival over the past 55 days, which has brought in about SR 600 million in sales, said Khalid Al-Naqeedan, CEO of the festival.
During the 90-day festival, around 300,000 tons of dates will be sold, reaching a combined sales figure of more than SR 1 billion. Last year the festival saw sales reaching SR 800 million.
The festival in Buraidah attracts traders and the public to the world’s largest date collection during harvest season, gathered from more than 6 million palm trees in the region.
Saudi Arabia has the highest number of palm trees in the world with more than 23 million, accounting for 20 percent of the world’s production. There are more than 6 million date palms in Qassim province alone.
“The youth have been inspired to open small projects concerned with date trade,” said Al-Naqeedan.
According to official statistics, the number of visitors has yet to reach this year’s expectations, seeing as the date season is only half over.
Al-Naqeedan said that there was still plenty of time left in the season, and date prices were low despite it being peak season.
“Al-Sukari, being the most priced and popular date, dominates the market, while Al-Kalas, which stands at second place, is expected to enter the market by this week,” he said.
Currently this season, the prices of dates have fluctuated since the beginning of the harvest season, and disparity of prices are the main feature in date business this year.
Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijiri, member of the National Center for Dates, said that there was a good trend in the market, especially for traders this year. There was still a long season ahead to store enough for the coming month of Ramadan. A number of internal and external shows have been organized for the marketing of dates, and prices will gradually increase after the season.
He expected that by next year the price of dates would increase more than 40 percent compared to the last few years, and prices were expected to rise more than 100 percent ahead of Ramadan, especially for Sukari, Kalas and some other items favored by Saudis.
Al-Tuwaijri added that some of the traders worry about financial losses in storing large quantities of dates, especially since storage costs had risen more than 20 percent this year.
Abdullah Al-Dahyan, Director Board Chairman of the Agricultural Cooperative Society, said that storage, refrigeration and cooling would keep the dates in good condition this year after having waited out such a long date season.
He added that the long season helped farmers to develop farm products. “But marketing is still a great weakness for farmers. Now they have been achieving good returns as outlets are selling their products without artificial additives on the most prominent products in Saudi Arabia,” said Al-Dahyan.
He added that the date was the first food in Saudi Arabia after wheat decline in quantity.
“We have reached the amount of 1.2 million tons of dates in Saudi Arabia, while wheat production has reached up to 4 million tons in previous years, which outweigh the needs of the Kingdom more than 50 percent,” Al-Dahyan said.
Buraidah Date Festival draws 800,000 visitors
Buraidah Date Festival draws 800,000 visitors
Moon-Venus conjunction visible in northern Saudi Arabia
- The celestial show occurred after sunset over the Northern Border region and was visible to the naked eye, with the moon and the planet separated by just three degrees
RAFHA: A spectacular celestial event took place over Saudi Arabia's northern skies on Saturday night, with the moon and Venus in conjunction, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Sunday.
Known as a conjunction, the phenomenon occurred in the sky after sunset over the Northern Border region and was visible to the naked eye, with the moon and the planet separated by just three degrees.
A conjunction occurs when two celestial objects appear close to each other in the sky and share the same celestial longitude, the report quoted astronomer Berjis Al-Fulaih as saying.
Al-Fulaih, an official of the AFAQ Society for Astronomy in Taif, noted that Venus is often referred to as the "Evening Star" or the "Morning Star," depending on its position in the west or east.
The alignment, visible to the naked eye, marks the beginning of the moon's monthly journey past the bright planets.
In an interview with SPA ahead of the celestial event, Jeddah Astronomy Society chief Majed Abu Zahra said the appearance of the crescent moon and Venus together shortly after sunset, before the sky darkened fully, brought about the spectacular view.
"As the second and third brightest objects in the night sky, after the sun, they will present a striking view," he said.
A faint glow, caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth (known as Earthshine), will softly illuminate the unlit part of the moon's disk, he explained.
Abu Zahra said there will be another astronomical event in mid-October: arrival of Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, which will appear 20 to 25 degrees northwest of Venus on October 13 and 14. The comet may even be visible to the naked eye, though comets are notoriously unpredictable.
By October 25, Venus will appear three degrees north of the star Antares. Toward the end of the month, Venus will draw closer to Earth, with its disk measuring 14 arcseconds and being 77% illuminated, SPA quoted Abu Zahra as saying.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF considers larger stake in Nintendo
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said on Saturday it was considering raising its stake in Japan’s Nintendo and other Japanese gaming companies, according to reports.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice chair of the PIF’s gaming unit, disclosed the plan in an interview with Kyodo News.
He said that the PIF was “not in a rush to increase its stakes” and that the investments would be made in a “friendly way.”
The PIF currently owns 8.58 percent of Nintendo and has stakes in video game companies Capcom, Nexon, and Koei Tecmo.
National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy
- Riyadh book fair is a testament to Kingdom’s focus on culture and heritage, says Prince Sultan
RIYADH: National heritage will be the biggest driver of the economy under Saudi Vision 2030, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and founder and chairman of the nonprofit Al-Turath (Heritage) Foundation.
He was speaking at the foundation’s annual meeting held under the theme “Confident Steps Toward the Future” at the Riyadh International Book Fair, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A documentary film about the foundation’s journey, highlighting its key initiatives and most important milestones, was screened.
HIGHLIGHT
Prince Sultan bin Salman also spoke about the Al- Turath Foundation-produced documentary film “Okath Al-Badr,” which covers stories from the life of Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz.
Another film showed the launch, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, of the book “King Salman,” an Al-Turath Foundation initiative sponsored by Saudi Aramco to coincide with the 94th National Day.
Prince Sultan said that the book fair is a testament to the attention the Kingdom gives to culture and national heritage, which will become the biggest drivers of the economy.
The book, which Prince Sultan described as a gift to the nation, covers different stages in the life of King Salman alongside the Kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz and other Saudi rulers.
Prince Sultan said that the Al-Turath Foundation has experienced continuous development since its establishment 28 years ago, printing books, conducting research, archiving historical photos, and documenting the nation’s history over the course of more than a quarter of a century.
Prince Sultan also spoke about the Al-Turath Foundation-produced documentary film “Okath Al-Badr,” which covers stories from the life of Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz.
The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, founder and trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Prince Faisal bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and chairman of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives; Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority; and several princes, officials, and ambassadors to the Kingdom.
The Riyadh International Book Fair, themed “Riyadh Reads” and featuring over 800 pavilions, is organized yearly by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission.
It began on Sept. 26 and runs until Oct. 5, with over 2,000 publishing houses from 30 countries participating. The schedule includes seminars, panel discussions, poetry recitals, stage performances, and workshops.
Saudi academy to launch Arabic Language Month in France
- The program includes visits to French universities and educational centers to “meet staff and enrich the learning experience”
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language will launch its Arabic Language Month in France program on Oct. 7.
The initiative aims to “develop Arabic-language teaching curricula, enhance teacher performance, promote the language, and showcase Saudi Arabia’s initiatives,” according to a Saudi Press Agency report published on Saturday.
The program includes visits to French universities and educational centers to “meet staff and enrich the learning experience,” the report continued.
Previous editions of the Arabic Language Month program have been implemented in Uzbekistan, Indonesia, and China.
The academy will also host its third international conference — “Arabic Language Computing and Enriching Linguistic Data” — on Oct. 6 and 7 in Riyadh, at which experts will discuss “innovations in Arabic language computing and improving artificial intelligence models,” and “address the need for enhanced academic practices in the Arab world.”
A deliciously artistic trend sweeps Saudi Arabia’s X breakfast community
- Arab News looks at the evolution of an online community taking breakfast to new levels
- The evolution of a vibrant online group
RIYADH: In the age of social media, where trends are born in an instant and entire communities form around shared passions, one unique and wholesome movement has emerged on X to celebrate the most important meal of the day: breakfast.
What began as a simple space for users in Saudi Arabia to share their daily meals has quickly evolved into a vibrant online community where creativity, health, and aesthetic presentation come together.
People from all over the Kingdom contribute their carefully crafted breakfast plates with artistic flair, making breakfast a celebrated moment every day.
Khaled Saud, the creator of the community, has reflected on how far it has come, saying: “Watching the community grow from fun and lighthearted posts to a space where people take pride in their breakfast creations has been incredibly rewarding.
HIGHLIGHTS
• For some participants the online community has sparked a new motivation to take breakfast more seriously.
• In addition to creativity, health is also a significant focus within the community.
“I’m happy to see how much participation has increased and how creative the presentations have become.”
For some participants the community has sparked a new motivation to take breakfast more seriously.
Wafa Al-Qahtani shared how the group helped her stay consistent with her meals, saying: “The reason I love this community is the interaction from the people. Honestly, it has motivated me to maintain a daily breakfast routine, and I try to get creative so I can post it in the community.”
This sentiment is echoed by Ameera Al-Dossari, who has embraced the idea of breakfast as a shared experience and said: “This is such a beautiful concept; it motivates me to wake up early and participate.
Seeing everyone’s posts encourages me to be more thoughtful with my breakfast choices. Honestly, I’ve started taking more care of my meals.
Ameera Al-Dossari, Community member
“Seeing everyone’s posts encourages me to be more thoughtful with my breakfast choices. Honestly, I’ve started taking more care of my meals.”
The community, for many, is not only about the food but about the relationships and connections formed through a shared love for breakfast.
It has also had an unexpected effect on some members’ sleep schedules. One user joked that they had been trying and failing to wake up at 7 a.m. for two months but after joining the community were happy to wake up at 5:30 a.m.
“For me, breakfast is one of the best moments of the day. I don’t just see it as a meal; it’s more like a ritual where we begin a new day,” said Rahaf Tareq, for whom breakfast has become a cherished time.
That sentiment captures the essence of why so many in Saudi Arabia are drawn to the movement — it provides a moment of mindfulness and self-care at the start of each day.
In addition to creativity, health is also a significant focus within the community.
Ram Wael highlighted the importance of breakfast as a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle, saying: “The reason I participate is that breakfast is an essential and necessary meal that needs to be healthy.
“However, many people have neglected its importance, and I love how this community has sparked a sense of competition and enthusiasm for creating and sharing breakfast.”
Wael’s participation is driven by a desire to bring attention to the value of a nutritious breakfast, encouraging others in the Kingdom to see it as more than just a quick meal.
Sahar Khojah, who believes the breakfast community has ignited a love for cooking and sharing with others, said: “I’ve always loved cooking and I constantly take pictures of my breakfast.
“I was really happy when I found this breakfast community because now I can share my meals, not just for myself but for people who appreciate them and can see my work.”
This sense of shared appreciation has turned a solitary activity into one that brings joy to others, showcasing how food can be a powerful tool for connection.
Khansa Al-Omari shared her excitement over the group’s influence on her creativity, saying: “It’s really nice when someone gets excited, prepares breakfast, and gets creative.
“Even though I don’t post often, when I see the shared posts I get inspired to make myself a neat breakfast. The community encourages even those who don’t often participate to step up their game and bring a sense of artistry into their everyday routines.”
Shoroog Al-Ghamdi, a software engineer, uses an analogy from her field to describe how breakfast fits into her life. She said: “In software we have something called eager loading, which loads all the data we need in advance.
“Breakfast is my way of loading my energy and booting up my brain cells!”
For Al-Ghamdi, breakfast is not just fuel for the body but also a mental preparation for the day ahead, tying it to productivity and well-being.
Layan Sultan reflected on how breakfast helps her start her day. She said: “The reason I show my breakfast specifically is that it’s one of the reasons I wake up excited every morning.
“There’s something good in every day, even if it’s just a meal. This meal makes my body, mind, and soul awake and ready to face every single thing that day brings.”
This collective enthusiasm across Saudi Arabia ensures that the community continues to grow, inspiring others to prioritize breakfast and add a personal, artistic touch to their meals.
Mashael Omar summed it all up, saying: “Breakfast gives energy for the rest of the day, improves the mood, and is part of practicing the hobby of cooking.”
