Riyadh stages first international date festival

Riyadh: An international festival for dates — the first of its kind in the world, is being launch today in the city of Buraidah, 300 kilometres north of Riyadh, with a large number of farmers and traders taking part.

Many people are expected to visit the festival to purchase dates before Ramadan, which is expected this year to begin on August 11.

Dates bourse

The festival coincides with the launch of the first electronic dates bourse where customers can buy the best quality dates at reasonable prices.

The online service available on altomor.com, enables international auctioneers to buy and sell dates for which prices are changing every day between traders and consumers.

The available quantities of dates are photographed and shown on the site for people to trade. People usually buy large quantities of dates during Ramadan. Many Muslims are used to break their fast by eating dates. The launch of the electronic exchange market for dates is considered by observers to be a big leap forward by the world's single largest producer and consumer of dates.

Traders expect the quantities of dates in the festival to be exceptionally large in order that people can buy according to the theory of demand and supply.