The GCC Journal

A Guide to Saudi Arabia’s Finest Date Varieties

The Kingdom produces over 300 varieties across 37 million palm trees. Here are seven worth knowing by name.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest producer of dates, after Egypt, and the global leader in date exports. The numbers are staggering: more than 37 million palm trees spread across every province of the Kingdom, producing nearly 1.9 million tons annually across some 300 distinct varieties. Date cultivation covers approximately 165,000 hectares, and exports reached over 321,000 tons in 2022, shipped to 116 countries worldwide.

But behind the statistics lies something more personal. Dates are deeply woven into Saudi culture, hospitality, and daily life. They are the traditional food for breaking the Ramadan fast. They are served with Arabic coffee to welcome guests. They are mentioned more than any other fruit in the Quran. And for anyone visiting the Kingdom, navigating the sheer variety on offer at a date market can be both thrilling and overwhelming.

Here are seven varieties worth knowing by name, where they come from, and what makes each one distinctive.

Ajwa

The holy date of Madinah

Ajwa dates are small, dark brown to black, and soft with a fine, wrinkled skin. They are grown almost exclusively in the Madinah region and hold a unique place in Islamic tradition: the Prophet Muhammad described them as a fruit of paradise, and a well-known hadith recommends eating seven each morning for protection. Their flavor is subtle and complex, with notes of caramel, dark treacle, and a hint of prune. Less intensely sweet than many other varieties, Ajwa dates are prized for their depth rather than their sugar.

Sukkari

The sweet one, and Saudi Arabia’s bestseller

The name says it all: “sukkari” translates to “the sweet one,” and these golden, acorn-shaped dates are the most popular variety in Saudi Arabia, commanding roughly 35% of the domestic market. Predominantly cultivated in the Al-Qassim region, where the climate and soil are ideal, Sukkari dates have a melt-in-the-mouth softness and a rich caramel flavor. The crystallized sugars near the skin give them a slight crunch that sets them apart from other soft varieties. They are sold both fresh (rutab) and dried (tamer), and each form offers a different experience: the fresh version is juicy and yielding, while the dried version is chewier with a more concentrated sweetness.

Khalas

The date of hospitality, and the Kingdom’s most prolific

Khalas is the most widely produced date variety in Saudi Arabia, with more than 10.9 million palm trees across the Kingdom, led by the Eastern Province’s Al-Ahsa oasis, where over 1.5 million Khalas trees produce the bulk of the crop. The name translates roughly to “the essence,” and the flavor delivers: a rich, creamy sweetness with a buttery texture that pairs naturally with Arabic coffee. Khalas dates are the variety most commonly served to welcome guests, making them synonymous with Saudi hospitality. They are also among the most exported Saudi dates, along with Sukkari.

Medjool

The king of dates

Medjool dates are the variety most people outside the Middle East know best, and for good reason: they are enormous, plump, and spectacularly indulgent. The flavor is deep toffee and caramel, with a fleshy, yielding texture that makes them feel like a natural confection. The name “Medjool” (also spelled Majdool) is thought to derive from a word meaning “prized orphan,” a reference to its unknown lineage. While Medjool palms are now cultivated in California, Morocco, Jordan, and Palestine, Saudi-grown Medjools benefit from the Kingdom’s ideal climate and are widely available across the country.

Safawi

The everyday date with year-round availability

Safawi dates are deep black with hints of dark cherry, medium-sized, and cylindrical in shape, closely resembling Ajwa but with a slightly firmer, semi-dry texture. Grown primarily in the Madinah region, they are classified as semi-dry, which gives them a longer shelf life and makes them available year-round, unlike many soft varieties that have narrow harvest windows. The flavor is subtly sweet, less complex than Ajwa but still refined, and they are often the more affordable alternative for those who enjoy the Madinah date profile. Their high antioxidant and fiber content has made them popular among health-conscious consumers.

Barhi

The crunchy, golden date sold on the branch

Barhi dates stand apart from every other variety on this list. In their unripe “khalal” stage, they are bright yellow, round, and crisp, with a mild sweetness and an almost apple-like crunch. They are often sold still attached to their thin branches, making them one of the most visually striking dates you’ll encounter at a Saudi market. As they ripen, the color darkens to amber and the texture softens toward a caramel-like richness. The name derives from the Arabic word for “hot wind,” a reference to the desert conditions under which they thrive. For those who don’t like intensely sweet dates, Barhi in their yellow stage offer something refreshingly different.

Anbara

The rare, oversized luxury date

Anbara (also known as Amber) dates are among the most expensive in the world, and they look the part. They are noticeably larger than most other varieties, with a big, fleshy body and a small seed, giving them an exceptionally high fruit-to-pit ratio. The color is a rich brown, the texture is soft and meaty, and the flavor is mildly sweet with a distinctive richness. Grown in the Madinah region, Anbara dates are a popular premium gift, particularly for visitors returning from Hajj or Umrah. They are also a significant source of protein relative to other date varieties, which is unusual for a fruit.

The Bigger Picture

More than a fruit

Saudi Arabia produces over 300 varieties of dates, and the seven profiled here only begin to scratch the surface. There are also Khudri (affordable, chewy, and ideal for cooking), Sagai (two-toned, with a dry golden tip and soft brown body), Sufri (widely grown across the southern provinces), and dozens more, each tied to a specific region, climate, and tradition. The date industry is also modernizing rapidly: Vision 2030 has identified dates as a priority agricultural export, and investments in smart farming, AI monitoring, organic certification, and premium packaging are transforming what was once a subsistence crop into a global luxury product.

For visitors, a trip to a date market, whether in Buraydah’s famous seasonal festival in Al-Qassim or the shops lining the streets near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, is one of the most sensory and culturally rewarding experiences Saudi Arabia has to offer. Tasting your way through the varieties is not just about flavor; it’s about geography, history, and a living tradition that stretches back thousands of years.