Every September, AlUla comes alive with its annual date season, a celebration combining agriculture, culture, and commerce. What was once a local harvest festival has now become an international talking point, with AlUla dates gaining recognition as a premium Saudi product.
This year’s season has been buzzing. Farmers, traders, and visitors have flocked to the markets, where deals are struck and new partnerships forged. Sales have climbed past 1.7 million kilograms of dates, generating more than SAR8.8 million in revenue. AlUla’s reputation as both an agricultural powerhouse and a cultural destination continues to grow, proving that the humble date is much more than a desert staple.
A taste of heritage
With more than 4.1 million palm trees producing 169,000 tons of dates annually, AlUla is deeply rooted in the traditions of date cultivation. The Royal Commission for AlUla has stepped in to make sure that heritage meets modern standards, empowering over 2,500 farmers with training and certifying 250 farms for top-quality production.
AlUla dates are becoming a lifestyle product, increasingly found at high-end markets and exhibitions both locally and internationally. As AlUla positions itself as a global cultural hub, its dates are taking on symbolic weight too. They represent the fusion of past and future: the traditions of ancient farmers meeting the ambitions of modern Saudi Arabia.
