Egypt launches 8th Int’l Date Palm Festival in Bahariya Oasis to foster date industry, innovation

CAIRO – 8 November 2025: Egypt, the world’s largest date producer, officially launched the 8th Egypt International Date Palm Festival – Bahariya Oasis on Saturday in the presence of senior Arab officials and diplomats.

The festival runs until Tuesday under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and with the support of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm of the United Arab Emirates.

The festival’s opening ceremony was attended by ministers, governors, ambassadors, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as representatives of international organizations, experts, and specialists in the field.

 

Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development Kamel El-Wazir affirmed that Egypt’s date production and processing sector is one of the country’s most promising industries, contributing to economic growth, export expansion, and job creation.

Egypt ranks first globally in date production, accounting for more than 19 percent of global output and 24 percent of Arab production.

El-Wazir highlighted that Bahariya Oasis is among Egypt’s most important date-producing regions, particularly known for its semi-dry varieties that enjoy strong global demand and high market value.

The area has seen significant expansion in production, packaging, and manufacturing activities, supported by dozens of factories and packing stations.

 

He added that the Ministry of Industry is working intensively to develop the sector by upgrading existing factories, establishing modern packing and processing facilities, and reducing waste to maximize added value.

Currently, Egypt has over 150 factories and packing stations operating in date production and processing, according to El-Wazir.

He underscored presidential directives aimed at advancing the palm cultivation industry, including the establishment of the world’s largest date palm farm, comprising 2.3 million trees in the Toshka and East Owainat regions.

Boosting Production, Innovation

The festival aims to showcase the potential of Egypt’s date palm sector, encourage greater efficiency and competitiveness in production and processing, and help local producers access global export markets, according to Khalifa International Award for Date Palm.

It also seeks to connect date growers, manufacturers, and exporters, enabling them to exchange expertise, strengthen partnerships, and improve product quality.

In addition, the event provides a platform to identify challenges facing the date sector and explore successful solutions, while fostering innovation and creativity through specialized competitions.

 

Visitors can also explore the latest technologies in date cultivation, processing, and export, attend scientific seminars and workshops, and learn about the finest and rarest date varieties, along with the latest by-products and cultivation techniques.