Riyadh: The Buraidah International Dates Carnival opens tomorrow and runs through October 14. The annual economic event marks one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's largest dates marketing seasons, bringing together farmers, traders, and importers from within the Kingdom and abroad. According to Saudi Press Agency, the event also features cultural, tourism, and entertainment activities at several venues, including a rural farm showcasing the agricultural heritage of Qassim Region, in addition to cultural and community activities at King Khalid Cultural Center. The carnival reflects the scale of the palm and dates sector in Qassim Region, which is home to more than 11 million date palm trees and produces approximately 578,000 tons of dates annually. The event generates an estimated SAR3.2 billion in annual economic returns and creates more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. The carnival also supports investment and partnerships among stakeholders in the food and agriculture sectors, in line with the objecti ves of Saudi Vision 2030 to develop promising sectors and diversify sources of income.