Dates: The product becoming increasingly appetising to the Saudi Economy

If the world’s largest date carnival sounds like the kind of cultural attraction you’d find in a travel magazine, the sheer numbers coming out of the Buraidah Dates Carnival in Qassim in early August proved how important dates are becoming to the Saudi economy, too.

With 3.5m kilograms of dates delivered to the carnival, it was no wonder buyers and traders flocked to Qassim, ending in week one sales exceeding SAR 28m. And with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture reporting that Saudi Arabia has achieved a self-sufficiency rate of 124% in dates - ie, there are more dates than there is demand in the Kingdom - the time has now come to herald the fruit as genuine, exportable and productive driver of a more diverse economy.

Dates: Part of Saudi  Life

Like oil, the desert and camels, dates are synonymous with Saudi Arabia. In most hospitality occasions - on a plane, at weddings, funerals or receptions, dates are always offered with Saudi coffee. For Saudis it is a steady constant - if you go for a picnic or to a friend’s house, dates and coffee are always present. But in recent years, something more interesting has occurred - this cultural phenomenon has expanded into an economic one too. How come?

Progress in Production

There’s an obvious reason for the increase in date harvests and the increase in that self-sufficiency rate - palm cultivation has been expanded across the Kingdom. Actually, it was relatively simple to expand the amount of hectares devoted to this significant agricultural process given the country has a favourable climate for growing date palms.

There are now vast date farms mainly in the eastern region, including Al-Qassim and Al-Ahsa, with government support to modernise the process and improve irrigation not only boosting production but quality too. As as statement by the Ministry put it: ”the expansion of date palm cultivation has been a key factor in achieving our self-sufficiency goals," with cultivation now covering approximately 165,000 hectares.

The primary areas of date production include:

• Riyadh region, contributing 436,112 tons annually
• Qassim region, with 390,698 tons
• Madinah, producing 263,283 tons
• Eastern Region, generating 203,069 tons

Other regions produce about 73,298 tons.

Ahmed Al-Saudi, who farms in the Eastern Region, confirms that the strategy from all stakeholders is working. “The recent improvements in date cultivation techniques have significantly boosted our yields and helped us compete on a larger scale."

This is a sentiment echoed by several industry experts highlighting the role of innovation in agricultural practices.

The Harvest Season campaign, too, aims to raise awareness about local fruits and their year-round availability. As campaign coordinator Fatima Al-Harbi, Riyadh region, explains: "our goal is to educate the public about the variety of local produce available and to support our farmers by increasing the consumption of domestic products."

The campaign focuses on promoting local products, educating consumers, and enhancing the financial returns for local farmers.

Significance of Dates

As Muslims make their way through the holy month of Ramadan, one of the period’s most well known traditions is to break the fast by eating dates. Indeed, the AINakheel (the tree on which dates grow) and dates themselves are mentioned in the Quran on several occasions. This is underscored by the Sunnah (a recommendation by Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him) of breaking the fast with dates - which also highlights the fruit's health benefits. 

What you might not know, though, is that that there’s a distinct likelihood that the dates consumed around the world during Ramadan came from Saudi Arabia: the kingdom has quickly become the world’s biggest exporter of the fruit. 

So dates now not only have remarkable religious, cultural and economic importance to Saudi Arabia, they serve as a bridge between cultures - while also contributing to sustainable agriculture and supporting health-conscious diets. 

A Short History

The importance of dates to Saudi Arabian history is multifaceted. For the Bedouins, dates were more than just a source of nutrition; they intertwined with their way of life and social customs in the harsh desert environment.

Date palm cultivation is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula around 6,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. Throughout history, date palms have been more than just a source of nourishment though; they have also served as symbols of hospitality and peace in Arab culture. Oasis towns, where date palms flourished, became vital trading centres in ancient times, facilitating the exchange of goods and ideas along the trade routes crisscrossing the Arabian Peninsula.

The significance of dates in the lives of the Bedouins is, then, profound; a fundamental component of survival. Traditionally, Bedouins led a nomadic lifestyle, moving through vast and often harsh desert landscapes in search of grazing for their livestock. In such environments, where water was scarce and vegetation sparse, the date palm stood as a symbol of life and sustenance.

Dates, which are highly nutritious and energy-dense, served as an ideal source of nourishment. Their high sugar content provided immediate energy, crucial for the physically demanding nomadic life, while their fibre, vitamins, and minerals supported overall health. 

The durability and portability of dates were particularly important for Bedouins, too.

Dates could be easily dried and stored for long periods without spoiling, making them a reliable food source during long desert crossings and in seasons when other foods might have been scarce - and in addition to their practical value, dates held cultural significance for Bedouins, featuring in many of their traditions, celebrations, and hospitality practices. A tradition that continues to this day.

21st Century Health Benefits

Dates can be consumed in reasonable amounts by anyone, including those with diabetes, due to their dense nutritional content, offering a significant dose of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Just as in the past, their sweetness provides a substantial natural energy boost, too. 

As well as supplying instant energy, dates aid digestion and contribute to heart health. To this day, grandmothers mash dates and rub it on the roof of a baby's mouth Al Hankah, as the nutrients from dates can aid the baby's digestive system when getting used to food.

How Many Date Types?

There are 300 types of dates in Saudi Arabia. The diversity among date types is vast, each variety offering unique flavours and textures. Among the most cherished are the Ajwa dates from the Madinah region, highly revered in Islamic tradition for their soft, dark texture and rich flavour. 

Then there's the Sukkari, known for its incredibly sweet from in the Qassim region. The Khalas dates, a staple in the Al-Ahsa region, offer a unique taste that's moist, making them a favourite across the country. 

Safawi dates, also from Madinah, are valued for their rich, sweet flavour and resemble the Ajwa in prestige but are more widely available.

Taking Dates to the World

There’s something satisfyingly circular about dates now being an important export for Saudi Arabian given the whole way in which trade in the Kingdom was transformed came via date-palm-lined oasis where people would gather to exchange goods and cultural ideas. 

By the early 21st century, Saudi Arabia leveraged its vast date palm resources to become one of the world's leading producers and exporters of the fruit. The country's exports in particular have seen substantial growth over the years, both in volume and in the diversity of destinations. By the end of 2023 the National Center for Palms and Dates in Saudi Arabia highlighted a 14% increase in the Kingdom's date exports, a value of approximately 1.462 billion SAR ($390 million). 

Overall, latest figures reveal a staggering 1.6m tons of dates being produced a year, from more than 34million date palms across the country. Approximately a fifth of that haul is now exported to over 100 countries. An incredible, sustainable industry and success story for modern and traditional Saudi Arabia, then. Food for thought, indeed. 

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