Palm Festival Showcases Bahrain's Date Harvest and Heritage
The seventh Palm Festival opened yesterday at the Farmers Market in Howrat A’ali, bringing together local farmers, artisans and businesses to showcase fresh dates, traditional crafts and Bahraini products.
Running until Saturday, the three-day event gives visitors a chance to explore Bahrain’s date harvest, purchase locally grown produce and learn more about crafts linked to the Kingdom’s palm heritage.
Speaking to The Daily Tribune, farmer Muhsin said date prices have remained stable compared with last year, despite a lower harvest this season due to challenging weather conditions.
“Premium varieties such as Khalas and Barhi are selling for between BD1 and BD2 per kilogram, while Khneizi and Khawaja are priced between BD1 and BD1.5. Prices have remained almost the same as last year,” he said.
Muhsin added that the Ghurra variety, the first to ripen each season, is currently selling for around BD1 per kilogram as its harvest comes to an end. At the start of the season, however, it can reach BD4 to BD5 due to limited supply and high demand.
“Ghurra is always in high demand at the beginning of the season because it is the first fresh date available. As more quantities reach the market, prices naturally become lower,” he said.
Muhsin said this year’s production was affected by strong winds, unseasonal rainfall and difficult weather conditions during the pollination period.
Date palms require careful pollination to produce a successful crop. Unlike many fruit trees, male and female flowers grow on separate trees, with pollen from male palms transferred to female flowers through natural or manual methods. Weather conditions during this sensitive stage can affect the season’s yield.
“The harvest is lower than expected because of the weather, but we are happy to bring fresh Bahraini dates to the festival and showcase our local produce,” Muhsin added.
The festival also highlights Bahrain’s traditional crafts, with local artisans showcasing basket weaving and pottery. A heritage display features palm-frond products, including ropes, furniture and fishing traps, while traditional A’ali pottery is available for visitors to purchase.
Bahrain is home to more than 100 varieties of dates, including popular types such as Khalas, Khneizi, Barhi, and Ghurra. Date palms have been part of the Kingdom’s agricultural identity for thousands of years, providing food, shade and materials used in traditional crafts.
The Kingdom is also exploring sustainable approaches to date palm cultivation by combining traditional farming knowledge with modern techniques to improve production and protect local varieties.
The annual festival continues to support local farmers, promote Bahraini produce and celebrate the Kingdom’s enduring connection with the date palm.
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