Key Points
- Saudi Arabia world’s top date exporter
- Kingdom date exports rise by 15.9 percent year-on-year in 2024
- The Gulf country has more than 37 million palm trees
ISLAMABAD: For centuries, Saudi Arabia has cultivated dates not just as a staple of its diet but as a symbol of hospitality, heritage, and resilience in a harsh desert climate.
Today, Saudi dates are more than just a local delicacy; they are a global export, carrying with them the story of a land rooted in deep agricultural tradition and rich cultural pride.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading exporter of dates, has been cultivating and trading the fruit across the region for thousands of years.
Other top date-producing countries in the world are Egypt, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tunisia.
The date palm and dates sector contributes significantly to the Saudi Arabian economy, representing 12% of the total agricultural output and 0.4% of the non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to data released by the National Centre for Palms and Dates, Saudi Arabia’s date exports rose by 15.9 per cent year-on-year in 2024, reaching SR 1.695 billion ($451.7 million).
The centre, established in 2011 in Saudi Arabia, focuses on developing the palm and date sector through various initiatives.
According to the NCPD in 2024, the Kingdom produced over 1.9 million tonnes of dates, highlighting its key role in the global date market. With more than 37 million palm trees—accounting for about 27 per cent of the world’s total—Saudi Arabia operates approximately 123,000 palm agricultural holdings, reinforcing its status as a global leader in date production.
Recent data shows that the value of Saudi date exports has soared by 192.5% over the past eight years. This strong growth highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing progress in positioning itself as a major player in the global date market and emphasises the sector’s increasing role in supporting global food security.
The industry’s success is largely driven by steadfast support from the Kingdom’s leadership, which views the palm and date sector as a vital part of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and cultural identity.
This backing is further strengthened by coordinated efforts among producers, exporters, and government bodies to streamline export procedures and expand access to international markets through strategic partnerships with the private sector.
Saudi Arabia is actively expanding its date exports, with a particular focus on East Asian markets like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and China.
Date varieties
According to the International Trade Centre, Saudi Arabia is home to over 300 varieties of dates, with consumption peaking during the holy month of Ramadan, holidays, and special occasions. Locals refer to the date harvest season as Tabbakh al-Tamer or Tabbakh al-Rutab—meaning “Date Cook”—a culturally significant time when dates reach peak ripeness.
The date harvesting season and production usually begins in June and continues till November in many parts of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s top date-producing regions include Al-Qassim, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, the Eastern Province (Al-Ahsa), and Riyadh.
Home to over 11 million palm trees, Al-Qassim region produces approximately 528,000 tonnes of dates annually, accounting for roughly 35 percent of the Kingdom’s total date production.
Among the most prominent date varieties in Saudi Arabia is Khalas, which leads in both production and export. Around 25 per cent of the Kingdom’s palm trees are Khalas-producing, with Riyadh province hosting the largest share, approximately 3.2 million Khalas-producing palm trees.
Other well-known varieties grown across Saudi Arabia include Sukary, Barhi, Raziz, Ajwa, Saq’i, Safri, Shishi, Safawi, Khudari, Halawy, Anbara, Berni, and Rothana. The most preferred dates among Saudis are Sukary, Khalas, and Ajwa, while the top exported varieties are Khalas and Sukary.
Dates are marketed in a variety of forms, ranging from fresh single fruits sold directly by farmers to packaged, processed, and dried dates, as well as date paste and pressed date products.
The nutritional value of dates
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims break their fast with dates.
According to health experts, dates provide a quick source of carbohydrates for an immediate energy boost after a day of fasting, along with protein and fibre that support slower digestion and help prevent blood sugar crashes.
Naturally free from fat, cholesterol, and sodium, dates are a nutritional powerhouse. They contain more potassium than bananas, which can aid in muscle recovery and help regulate blood pressure.
Rich in essential vitamins and minerals—such as calcium, copper, magnesium, vitamin K, and B—dates also offer anti-inflammatory properties that support brain health and antioxidants that help protect against disease.
Festivals and research
Saudi Arabia’s date festivals showcase new cultivation techniques and promote knowledge exchange among scientists, farmers, and industry stakeholders.
The Buraidah Date Festival is the largest and oldest in the Arab world. Other notable festivals include the Al Qassim Date Festival and the AlUla Dates Festival.
The National Centre for Palms and Dates plays a vital role in arranging these events, which aim to promote the sale of Saudi dates both locally and internationally
The latest dates production techniques in Saudi Arabia focus on enhancing yield, quality, and sustainability through a combination of advanced technologies and traditional practices.
Key advancements include precision irrigation, AI-powered robotics, and climate-smart farming, alongside sustainable practices like integrated pest management and organic composting.
