São Paulo – Investment in Taif roses reached over SAR 64 million, about USD 17 million at the current rate, in Saudi Arabia, in the recent harvest. The amount was reported by the Ministry of the Environment of the kingdom, according to information provided by SPA, the Arab country’s official news agency. Rose farms are primarily located in the Sarawat Mountains of the Taif Province and harvest around 550 million flowers annually.
The rose season starts in early spring, in March, and lasts 45 days. According to SPA, this season, in addition to many rose lovers, perfume manufacturers from Saudi Arabia and abroad also traveled to the region. There, the Taif Rose Festival takes place during harvest time to present the roses and their different byproducts.
For Saudis, the time of the festival has an economic impact, as it contributes to supporting local businesses through programs such as the country’s sustainable rural development. The initiative offers investment opportunities in the Taif rose industry and helps increase these flowers’ cultivation area, contributing to leveraging the local Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Local industry
Taif province has over 910 rose farms and around 70 rose processing plants and laboratories to extract and manufacture more than 80 derivatives of the flowers. The products are mainly used to manufacture fragrances and body care products.
On the website of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), one of the places indicated for tourists to visit is the Rashid Al Qurashei Factory, which has an outdoor seating area adjacent to a garden with apricots, berries, and pomegranates and sells local products.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
