Palm Trees and Dates: 16 Eastern Region Varieties Dominate Markets During Ramadan

Eastern Region is among the Kingdom’s most important and largest date-producing regions. The Al-Ahsa Oasis, renowned for its vast palm groves, supplies local markets with premium date varieties that witness increased demand during Ramadan due to their quality and distinctive characteristics. This demand supports local farmers and promotes their products.
 The National Center for Palms and Dates explained that consuming dates during Ramadan offers numerous nutritional and health benefits. Dates are considered an ideal food for breaking the fast, as they provide the body with immediate energy from essential nutrients such as natural sugars, minerals, and proteins, which increases their popularity during the holy month.
 According to the center, annual date production in Eastern Region exceeds 261,000 tons. The region is home to more than 4.2 million palm trees, over 26,000 farms, and approximately 32 date-processing plants. The region is known for 16 date varieties, most notably Khalas, Shishi, and Raziz.
 The palm and date sector in Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by rising production and expanding export volumes and value. Total date production has surpassed 1.9 million tons, while export revenues have reached nearly SAR1.7 billion. Saudi dates are now exported to more than 133 countries worldwide, reinforcing the Kingdom’s leading position in global date exports.