RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla has announced the return of the AlUla Dates Festival, which will take place from Sept. 8 to Nov. 11. The fourth festival will take place every Friday and Saturday and will be split into two sections, Saudi Press Agency reported. The morning dates auction, which involves farmers and attendees bartering over date prices, will open during the weekends of Sept. 8 to Oct. 28.  From Oct. 13 to Nov. 11, the festival will hold a date souq where visitors can meet farmers, local producers and artisans, as well as sample various date-based culinary options. The AlUla dates market has experienced an increase in demand in recent years.  The festival allows local farmers to showcase their products and establish connections with buyers and investors from both within and outside Saudi Arabia. It is in line with the goals of Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as the world’s largest date producer. The previous festival attracted nearly 15,000 visitors. AlUla’s palm fields cover more than 10,000 hectares and contain upwards of two million palm trees. The region produces more than 90,000 tons of dates annually.