RIYADH: Dates hold an important place in Saudi Arabia’s spiritual and cultural fabric, and their association with hospitality and religious tradition makes them a staple of iftar tables during Ramadan.
The holy month also reshapes one of the Kingdom’s most established agricultural sectors, with the date industry shifting gear. Faith-driven consumption and a gifting culture amplifies demand throughout supermarkets and premium packaging segments.
Economic adviser Fadhel Al-Buainain told Arab News that while demand for dates remained steady across the year, domestic consumption rose noticeably during Ramadan.
“Recently, there has also been growing global demand for Saudi dates. However, local demand increases noticeably during Ramadan due to the association of dates with the iftar meal,” he said.
Many people prefer to break their fast with fresh rutab dates or, when these are unavailable, with dried dates, as per tradition. Along with the religious aspect, dates are also valued for their nutritional benefits — valuable during long fasting hours.
