His Highness Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Abdullah, Governor of Diriyah, commended the efforts of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in developing the Kingdom’s date production system and improving the quality of dates as a national product. These efforts include support programs for farmers and strategic initiatives that enhance the added value of dates in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. 

This came during the official launch of the Diriyah Date Season and its accompanying exhibition, held yesterday evening, in the presence of His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti, and the CEO of the National Center for Palms and Dates, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Sahlawi. The event runs until July 24, 2025, as part of the "Mawasim Tumourna" (Our Date Seasons) initiative organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates to boost the presence of Saudi dates locally and globally. The event combines Diriyah’s traditional heritage with economic, cultural, and social activities centered around dates and their products. 

Prince Fahd highlighted that the Diriyah Date Season reflects the great attention paid by the Kingdom’s leadership to the agricultural sector and its commitment to supporting the palm and dates sector as a vital pillar of national food security and a promising economic resource. He praised the ministry and the center’s roles in improving production quality, enhancing supply chain efficiency, and empowering farmers. Organizing the date season in Diriyah underscores the significant standing of Saudi dates on both local and global levels. 

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sahlawi, CEO of the National Center for Palms and Dates, affirmed that the "Mawasim Tumourna" initiative is designed to boost buyer engagement and purchasing power across various date markets in the Kingdom. It also aims to increase both the qualitative and quantitative indicators of Saudi dates as a national product. 

Visitors to the event are introduced to some of the finest varieties of dates, especially early-ripening dates (bawakir) for which Diriyah is famous, such as Dukhaini, Maqfazi, Qattara, and Barni, in addition to several of the Kingdom’s most sought-after date varieties, all within a vibrant and culturally rich setting that blends shopping with a national heritage experience. 

The Diriyah Date Season features: 

• 48 booths for date vendors and processed date products
• 4 booths for palm by-products
• 25 booths for local family businesses
• 6 restaurants and cafés
• 2 food trucks
• Government booths for the Ministry of Environment, Diriyah Municipality, and Diriyah Gate
• Workshops for children and adults
• Date auction zone
• A Ministry of Culture booth featuring artisans and traditional palm-based crafts as part of the Year of Handicrafts
• A Horse Parade event

The Saudi palm and date sector continues to witness rapid growth. According to 2024 data from the General Authority for Statistics:
 

• Date exports reached SAR 1.695 billion
• Domestic production exceeded 1.9 million tons
• Saudi dates were exported to 133 countries worldwide
• Sector exports grew by 15.9% compared to 2023

These achievements reflect the Kingdom’s production strength and the success of initiatives led by the Ministry of Environment and the National Center for Palms and Dates in enhancing quality, expanding global reach, and developing efficient supply chains — reinforcing the sector's contribution to the national economy in alignment with Vision 2030.

// End //
11:33 AM (Local Time)
0049