Saudi Arabia produces more than 300 kinds of dates, and is the top producer globally exporting dates. Based on MEWA, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), the average annual production of dates from the country is more than 1.6 million tonnes.

MEWA reported that Saudi Arabia has witnessed a 5.4 percent increase in the export of dates and their derivatives between 2022 and to 2021. The quantity of exported was greater than 321,000 tons with an amount of SR1.28 billion. This was an increase of 121% more than the year 2016 where exports came to SR578 million or 134,000 tonnes.

In terms of exports for dates in Q1 of this year the growth was 2.5 percentage over the similar period of 2022 and a total value of SR566 million. Saudi dates are sold in 111 countries throughout the globe.

The Al-Qassim region is home to the largest amount of palms, with an estimated 11.2 million trees. It is then Madinah at 8.3 million, and Riyadh at 7.7 million. The Eastern area (Al-Sharqiyah) includes 4.1 million tree.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa