Khalid Saif Al Suwaidi, owner of Bu Saif Apiaries. Photos by Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula
About 40km outside of Doha lies a sprawling farm in Al Shahaniya— and amongst the open field of crops, date palms, wattle and Sidr trees, are buzzing bees owned by a Qatari apiarist, Khalid Saif Al Suwaidi.
Dressed in a bee suit over his white thobe, Al Suwaidi examined a colony of honey bees that one of his beekeepers had removed from a tree.
“I love bees. I first dealt with bees when I was about 8 or 9 years old. When I first gathered honey from a wild bee colony in our garden for my father, I recall how he yelled at me and hugged me at the same time out of concern that I could get stung by bees,” Al Suwaidi told The Peninsula.
Though Al Suwaidi was advised to end his fascination with honey bees, it actually marked the start of his journey to the point where he is today contributing to Qatar's thriving honey industry.
Because beekeeping has become a vital part of the country's food security strategy, Al Suwaidi can only be grateful for his family's and the government's support in expanding his business and continuing his hobby.
“I started my business in 2005. The bees were from Egypt. I began with just 10 to 15 boxes. I made about 15 kilos of honey, which sold quickly. I now have 1,500 boxes, and we produced 14 tonnes of honey a year.”
“My family, particularly my wife, has been extremely supportive. Because I am not fluent in English, she assists me when I am looking for information in English that I can apply to the farm's bees,” added Al Suwaidi.
Bu Saif apiary in Al Shahaniya
Al Suwaidi’s team also helps in maintaining several beekeeping farms in Qatar. When asked if he considers himself the most successful apiarist in the country, he replied:
“I am not number one, but I believe I am the big beekeeper in this small country, with 1,500 boxes and a production of 14 to 20 tonnes. Many farms have around 50 boxes. They are not professional beekeepers, but they also want to make local honey. I do maintenance for other farms in Qatar, not just my own. We deal with around 17 farms. If a farm needs assistance, I send a team to teach them as well as maintain the boxes and bees.”
Khalid Saif Al Suwaidi and his staff at the Bu Saif apiary in Al Shahaniya
Al Suwaidi aims to add more boxes of bees and ramp up his honey production to around 30 tonnes, this despite the challenges they face in maintaining and growing the business.
“Summer is our number one major issue. Summer temperatures range from 48 to 50 degrees Celsius in the afternoon. This is a huge challenge for us.”
“The European Bee-eater is the second challenge for us. These migratory birds attack twice a year and destroy our farm. In a single day, they consume approximately 150 bees.”
Bu Saif apiary in Al Shahaniya
To address challenges, he employs a variety of techniques, such as securing the beehives in areas with adequate water, shade, and vegetation. "We can keep the bees hydrated, but we can't do anything about the bee-eater," he explained.
According to Al Suwaidi, the country was once flooded with imported honey, but now local honey producers have carved out a significant market share.
“Local beekeepers in Qatar have two seasons: Sidr and Spring. Sidr is also the name of Qatar's famous tree. It's the best season for us. It begins in November. We do everything for this season. The next season is the spring season, which lasts from March to May.”
Honey products from Bu Saif Apiaries
“Honey is a big business in Qatar because people love anything local, including fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, and eggs. Local products are always the best-sellers in any country. Sidr honey is our best-seller. It's not just Arabs who like it; Europeans, Asians, and Africans all enjoy it and take it as a gift, especially during the World Cup.”
“I hope we have a World Cup every month,” Al Suwaidi joked. “A lot of people visited which was very good. They think we're a desert country and we don't have fruits or vegetables, so they were surprised to learn that we do. I hope that everyone, especially Qataris, starts a business, such as farming.”
Beeswax candles from Bu Saif Apiaries
The 47-year-old entrepreneur currently runs three shop locations in Qatar: Souq Waqif, Souq Al Wakra, and Barwa Village, all of which sell honey and beeswax candles. His cafe serves tea, coffee, and cakes that are sweetened with only locally produced premium-quality honey.
“This business will be passed down through my family. I'll delegate it to my son. I bring him to the farm every week, and he knows everything there is to know about bees and honey,” Al Suwaidi disclosed to The Peninsula.
Al Suwaidi's goal is to see a massive increase in local honey production and to support all aspiring beekeepers in the country and the region.
He said: “Don't go into a business that you don’t know anything about. I'm currently working on a book about starting a beekeeping business in a GCC country. It contains details on how to handle bees throughout the summer and winter as well as many other difficulties. I intend to get it available in bookstores soon.”
