Sakaka, 17 Rajab 1447 AH (6 January 2026)

The 19th Al-Jouf International Olive Festival 2026 opens next Thursday, continuing a success story spanning nearly two decades in which the festival has cemented Al-Jouf's standing as one of the Kingdom's foremost destinations for agricultural and tourism festivals and a magnet for visitors from home and abroad.

Eng. Atef bin Mohammed Al-Sharaan, Mayor of Al-Jouf Region, said the municipality, as organiser, has closed applications and completed testing of oil and olive products through the electronic platform, ensuring all analysis is complete and products meet the approved quality and safety standards of the "Mujaz" programme before going on display in the festival pavilions.

Al-Jouf is the Kingdom's food basket and land of olives, home to more than 23 million olive trees producing over 150,000 tonnes of olives a year, while some 30 presses produce close to 18,000 tonnes of olive oil annually. The region also holds the world's largest organic olive farm, certified by Guinness World Records with more than 5 million trees, along with a Guinness certificate for the world's largest modern olive farm.

The festival enjoys wide local, regional and international participation from experts, specialists and enthusiasts as well as companies, producers and farmers, making it a leading platform for showcasing olive products, presenting the latest agricultural technology, exchanging expertise and building investment partnerships. Seven countries took part in the previous edition: Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Spain, Palestine and Syria, confirming the festival's civilisational and cultural role in fostering exchange between peoples.

The festival stimulates the region's economy by supporting sales and marketing, promoting the quality of Al-Jouf olive products and strengthening competitiveness, with large numbers of farmers and producers keen to take part and benefit from the direct marketing opportunities the event provides.

Beyond agriculture, the festival offers an integrated cultural experience through authentic Saudi heritage, with folk dances such as the Saudi Ardah and Samri, traditional handicrafts led by Sadu weaving, and productive families presenting folk dishes and heritage dress, in a scene that reflects the richness of national heritage and the diversity of Saudi culture.

The festival also opens wide horizons for entrepreneurs of both genders to present their brands in perfumes, cosmetics and personal care, and supports start-ups, particularly food trucks, with a dedicated zone as part of efforts to empower young people and strengthen the local economy.

The Al-Jouf International Olive Festival embodies an integrated model combining agriculture, economics, tourism and culture, and reflects the region's success in turning its natural resources into sustainable added value in line with Vision 2030's goals of economic diversification and regional development.