QATAR-DATE SALES Qatar date sales increase as Ramadan approaches

Record ID: 151157

  • Title: QATAR-DATE SALES Qatar date sales increase as Ramadan approaches
  • Date: 15th June 2015
  • Summary: DOHA, QATAR (JUNE 13, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING/CUSTOMERS AT A DATE SELLING BOOTH CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT DATES DATES ON DISPLAY CUSTOMERS TASTING DATES DATES ON DISPLAY CUSTOMERS TALKING WITH VENDOR. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI DATE VENDOR, ANWAR AL-SAYLANI, SAYING: "Certainly. Dates are a main component of the dining table in Ramadan, for all Muslims, whether Arabs or n
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Qatar
  • Country: Qatar
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABPBJP5E0V09Y7ICXGQKVCWH2B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dates sales in Qatar increased significantly as customers flocked to markets ahead of Ramadan to buy the sweet fruit.
    Following prophetic tradition, Muslims around the world who are observing Ramadan, traditionally break the day's fast on dates.
    Strong demand for dates is common at this time of the year as citizens and residents alike search for the best and the finest.
    Saudi date vendor, Anwar al-Saylani, said an increase in sales is normal in the second half of Shaban, the month preceding Ramadan.
    Al-Saylani comes to Qatar every year before Ramadan to participate at an annual Ramadan shopping festival.
    "Certainly. Dates are a main component of the dining table in Ramadan, for all Muslims, whether Arabs or non-Arabs. It's a Sunnah to break your fast on dates or Rutab. It's a basic meal for Arab and Gulf people. In Ramadan foreigners, like Indonesians, Indians and other communities buy dates as well," al-Saylani said.
    He adds that despite the presence of expensive varieties, date prices remained stable ahead of Ramadan due to the increase in production.
    "In the recent years, date prices became moderate. There is a strong production from Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries. So, prices are the same," he said.
    According to Al Medina chamber of commerce and industry, Saudi Arabia accounts for 14 percent of global date production.
    Most of the dates available in Qatari markets are imported from Saudi Arabia.
    Ezzat Qassim , a vendor at Doha Dates Company, said that dates witness an increase in demand in Ramadan.
    Purchasing dates to give for charity is one of the reasons for the increase in sales.
    "Thanks to God, date products are among the products achieving the highest sales in Ramadan, since most people use it for iftar. We also have people buying dates for charity purposes. These range from a 50 gm box to a big box of Medina Barni type sold for QR60," he said.
    While people seek the moderately priced varieties to distribute as charity, Qatari clients are more likely to buy the more luxurious types.
    "The most types in demand in Qatar are the deluxe dates, like Royal Khalas al-Qassim and royal, royal Khalas al-Qassim. These are the ones we sell the most. After that comes Ajwa al-Medina because people like to eat it to break their fast. In addition to Sukhari and Sagai," he added.
    Another type of dates popular in Qatar at this time of the year is the Rutab.
    These are ripe dates eaten fresh. Unlike the Tamr, which is left to dry.
    Rutab comes from Oman to the local Qatari market starting from June, when they are slightly crunchy and continue till August when they are fully ripe.
    Buyer Jaber al-Nabet complains that since the Rutab season coincides with Ramadan this year, prices have gone up.
    "Certainly. When Ramadan comes prices increase. This is well known. What was sold for a certain price, is now sold for the double of that price. That's how they work," he said.
    Al-Nabet said that dates are part of the gulf culture and traditions.
    "Rutab is good in Ramadan. It's a habit and a tradition. People of the Gulf are used to break their fast in Ramadan on Rutab, dates, water or juice," he added.
    Rutab prices in the Omani market ranges from QR15 to QR40, 4 to 10 U.S dollars, for one kilo. Trucks come daily from Oman to the market during the Rutab season.
    Buyer Abdel Rahman Mohamed Al Sharif said that expensive or not, dates are essential.
    "This is principal thing for us in Ramadan. Without it, we can't break our fast," he said.
    Ramadan this year is due to begin on 18 June, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register