Doha Municipality is actively safeguarding one of Qatar‘s most cherished summer traditions. The Health Inspection Section of the Municipal Control Department has been increasing its presence throughout the 10th Local Dates Festival in Souq Waqif—until August 7, 2025—to ensure that all dates, juices, and sweet pies sold meet the highest food safety standards.
From sunrise to sunset, city inspectors cruise the festival grounds, carefully scanning stalls belonging to nearby farms and food manufacturers. Their purpose? Every seller must exercise extreme caution in safe handling, including temperature storage and sanitation protocols, so that consumers can enjoy dates like the caramel-packed Khalas or the honey-soft Barhi without any concerns.
“But ensuring safety is just the beginning,” notes Fatima Al-Emadi, head of the Health Inspection Section. “We’re also providing on-the-spot training to workers, covering everything from proper handwashing techniques to the nutritional benefits of dates.” It’s an effort designed not only to protect consumers but also to empower the vendors themselves—many of whom are small-scale farmers making their festival debut.
Dates are not merely a summertime snack in Qatar; they’re forever an integral part of the very fabric of Gulf culture. Archaeologists suspect that this “miracle fruit” has been growing in the region for over 6,000 years, and today there are more than 250 varieties globally. Packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals—particularly potassium and magnesium—dates have even been found by scientists to enhance digestive health and provide sustained energy, and as such are a favorite of athletes and health-buff foodies alike.
The Local Dates Festival has long been compared to a Qatari pride show: previous seasons have featured more than 20 farms taking part and hosting tens of thousands of people keen to sample traditional date syrup, enjoy date-based sweet innovations, and observe traditional farming methods. This year, the organizers have added hands-on activities on saving dates and recycling date palm fronds into environmentally friendly crafts with a touch of a reminder of an undertaking together for sustainability.
By coupling rigorous inspections with educational outreach, Doha Municipality is reinforcing its dual role as regulator and guide. These efforts dovetail with the Ministry of Municipality’s strategic goal to bolster food security and elevate safety standards nationwide. So whether you’re a lifelong date aficionado or a curious newcomer, rest assured that every bite at Souq Waqif’s dates festival has been vetted for excellence—and a dash of Qatari hospitality.
