Record sale of dates during 10-day Jubail festival

JUBAIL: The 10-day ‘Date and Palm Festival’ organized by the Royal Commission for Jubail (RCJ) at the Al-Fanateer waterfront in Jubail Industrial City, has concluded its activities this week.
Khaled Al Shammari, deputy director of the RCJ’s social services department, said: “More than 50 date factories and merchants have participated in the festival to showcase their products, in addition to the success of the heritage market for dates and heritage crafts associated with palms and dates,” confirming that the total recorded sale value of the festival was at least SR1,150,000.
Al Shammari said that the total number of attendees to the festival reached 160,000, including both residents and foreigners. In addition, the event hosted some Tunisian craftsmen for the first time in its history, and involved a number of competitions for the most popular date-based dish, the most innovative dish, the best selfie with palm trees, as well as the electronic competition for the best photo of dates and palms.
The RCJ’s hospital in Jubail also participated in the festival through its health services program by conducting more than 280 vital sign and diabetes tests, providing more than 250 glucometers for people with diabetes, and wheelchairs for people with special needs and the elderly.
Further, there was a dietician at the festival to offer food tips for visitors and to distribute educational and awareness leaflets about the importance of hand sanitation.
The RCJ’s organization of this event comes as part of its corporate social responsibilities, thus leading the organization to promote activities in line with the needs of Jubail residents.
The festival included various activities centred around dates and palms and other related industries, as well as a number of heritage and educational activities for families and children.
In addition, there was an allocated area for heritage crafts and business associated with palms and dates, and a gallery for palm photos.