Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026 Guide
The Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026 runs from February 5 to 16 at Eastern Square in Doha, Qatar. This annual event showcases premium dates from 57 companies across 6 countries, offering visitors free access to high quality dates at competitive prices.
The exhibition opens just weeks before Ramadan 2026, making it a perfect shopping destination for families preparing for the holy month.
Souq Waqif International Dates | Event Details
Venue and Location:
The Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026 is held at Eastern Square, Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar. Eastern Square serves as the primary event space within the historic Souq Waqif marketplace.
Visitors can access the venue through 3 transportation options: personal vehicle with underground parking, Doha Metro via Souq Waqif station on the Gold Line, or taxi drop-off at designated zones. The location sits in central Doha, making it accessible for both residents and tourists.
Exhibition Timings:
The exhibition operates on a split schedule daily from February 5 to 16, 2026.
Daily timing breakdown:
This 12-day event runs continuously without weekend closures. The split timing accommodates Qatar’s climate, avoiding the hottest midday hours while extending evening shopping opportunities for working professionals and families.
Entry Fee and Access:
Entry to the Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026 is completely free. No tickets are required for access.
All visitors can enter without registration or advance booking. The open-access policy encourages families, tourists, and date enthusiasts to explore the exhibition without financial barriers.
Date Varieties and Products Available
Premium Date Varieties:
The exhibition features 6 primary date varieties from across the Middle East and North Africa. Each variety offers distinct flavor profiles, textures, and culinary applications.
Date Variety | Origin Region | Texture | Flavor Profile | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Medjool | Middle East | Soft, chewy | Rich, caramel-like | Snacking, desserts |
Khudri | Saudi Arabia | Semi-dry | Sweet, mild | Daily consumption |
Halawy | Iraq | Soft | Honey-sweet | Fresh eating |
Mazafati | Iran | Very soft | Intensely sweet | Premium gifts |
Sukkari | Saudi Arabia | Soft, moist | Sugar-sweet | Ramadan iftar |
Ikhlas | Regional | Varies | Balanced | Cooking, baking |
Vendors display both fresh and dried date varieties. Fresh dates contain higher moisture content (20-30%), while dried dates have moisture levels below 10%, extending shelf life to 6-12 months when stored properly.
Value-Added Date Products:
Beyond whole dates, the exhibition showcases 8 innovative date-based products that expand traditional consumption methods.
Available date products include:
These value-added products cater to health-conscious consumers seeking natural alternatives to processed sugars and artificial ingredients. Many vendors specialize in homemade organic preparations without preservatives or additives.
Arab customers typically prefer traditional whole dates, while non-Arab visitors show stronger interest in processed date products and cosmetics. This preference pattern influences vendor inventory and display strategies.
Prices and Shopping Benefits
The Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition 2026 offers prices 30% lower than external markets, according to exhibition organizers. Government support enables participating vendors to reduce costs while maintaining quality standards.
Direct purchasing from producers eliminates middleman markups. Visitors buy dates at wholesale-adjacent pricing typically reserved for bulk commercial orders.
Shopping advantages include:
Vendors provide small sample portions served with Arabic coffee, following traditional Qatari hospitality customs. This tasting approach helps visitors identify preferred varieties without commitment to large purchases.
The pre-Ramadan timing creates ideal shopping conditions. Families stock up on dates for iftar meals, with many purchasing 10-25 kg (22-55 lbs) quantities to last throughout the holy month. Vendors often offer package deals for bulk orders exceeding 15 kg (33 lbs).
About the Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition
The 4th Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition brings together 57 participating companies from 6 countries, including Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kyrgyzstan. The event takes place in an authentic heritage-inspired setting that reflects Qatar’s cultural traditions.
This year’s exhibition marks significant growth compared to previous editions. The 2nd edition in 2024 featured 95 companies from 7 countries and sold over 80 tonnes of dates. The 4th edition focuses on curated quality, offering visitors a carefully selected showcase of premium date varieties and innovative date-based products.
Souq Waqif management opened participant registration through their official portal at exhibition.souqwaqif.qa. The exhibition timing aligns strategically with Ramadan preparation, as dates hold deep cultural and religious significance in Qatar and across the Islamic world.
The Eastern Square venue provides a traditional marketplace atmosphere. Visitors can walk through vendor stalls, sample different date varieties, and purchase directly from producers. The heritage setting enhances the shopping experience, blending modern commerce with Qatar’s cultural identity.
Cultural Significance and Ramadan Connection
Dates serve as the national fruit of Qatar and hold profound cultural importance across the Gulf region. The date palm appears on Qatar’s national emblem, symbolizing sustenance, prosperity, and desert resilience.
Breaking the Ramadan fast traditionally begins with eating dates and drinking water, following Islamic teachings attributed to Prophet Muhammad. This practice provides quick energy through natural sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose) after daylight fasting periods of 12-14 hours.
Nutritional benefits of dates for iftar:
The exhibition’s February 5-16 timing positions it 2-3 weeks before Ramadan 2026, which begins around late February or early March. This advance window allows families to purchase and store dates properly before the holy month arrives. See official website for more detail.
Qatar produces limited domestic dates compared to consumption demand. The country imports premium varieties from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, and other regional producers. The Souq Waqif International Dates Exhibition centralizes this supply chain, bringing international producers directly to Qatari consumers.
Dates represent both a cultural treasure and a humble, accessible fruit. Unlike luxury foods, dates remain affordable across economic classes, embodying Islamic principles of sharing and community. The free-access exhibition model reinforces this democratic food tradition.
