Saudi Arabia maintained its position as the world leader in date exports by value in 2025, with shipments totaling approximately SR1.938 billion (roughly $517 million), marking the fourth consecutive year at the top, according to data from the International Trade Centre.

This represents a nearly 14 percent increase from 2024 figures and underscores the growing significance of the date sector within the Kingdom’s economy. The expansion aligns with broader efforts under Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the national economy and boost agricultural exports.

Ahmed Al-Mousa, CEO of the National Center for Palms and Dates, attributed the sustained growth to strong support from Saudi leadership and coordinated collaboration among government agencies, private companies, and other stakeholders. These partnerships have focused on developing supply chains, streamlining export operations, and broadening the international presence of Saudi dates.

Al-Mousa emphasized that the sector’s success reflects both the high quality and diverse varieties of Saudi dates, as well as improvements in production efficiency. The center’s targeted initiatives aim to enhance the value chain and facilitate easier access to overseas markets, contributing to the strong export performance.

Saudi dates are now distributed to over 125 countries worldwide, with demand driven by their variety and quality that cater to global consumer preferences. The Kingdom produces more than 1.9 million tonnes of dates annually and has over 37 million palm trees cultivating the crop.

Export values have shown consistent growth over recent years, rising from SR1.215 billion in 2021—when Saudi Arabia first topped the export value rankings—to SR1.28 billion in 2022, reaching 116 countries. In 2023, exports increased to SR1.462 billion, followed by SR1.605 billion in 2024, reflecting annual growth rates of approximately 14 and 15.9 percent, respectively. Since 2016, the value of date exports has climbed by 192.5 percent, with an average annual rise of 12.7 percent.

Saudi Arabia is also a global leader in date production, ranking second worldwide and accounting for around 17 percent of global output. The country’s date self-sufficiency stands at more than 125 percent, ensuring ample domestic supply in addition to export volumes.

Besides its economic role, the date palm holds significant cultural importance in Saudi Arabia, symbolizing a longstanding agricultural tradition deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s heritage.