Qassim Leads Saudi Arabia in Palm and Date Production

Qassim Region continues to hold the top spot among Saudi regions in palm cultivation and date production, backed by a large agricultural base and abundant natural resources. The region is home to more than 13,000 farms and around 10.8 to 11 million palm trees, producing over 584,000 tons of dates each year.

That output represents roughly 30 to 35 percent of Saudi Arabia's total date production, which reached about 1.92 million tons in 2024 across more than 37.6 million palm trees nationwide. Official statistics for 2024 through 2026 consistently rank Qassim first by palm count and date volume.

The region cultivates more than 100 date varieties, with leading commercial types including Sukkari, Sagai, Barhi, Khalas, Medjool, and Nabut Saif. Fertile soil, plentiful freshwater, and an agricultural base exceeding 14,000 holdings all support this leading position.

Economic impact and value chain

The palm and date sector adds an estimated 3.2 billion Saudi Riyal to Qassim's economy each year and provides more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Beyond seasonal harvesting, the sector is expanding into processing, storage, testing, packaging, and global distribution, with cooperative and manufacturing models linking farms directly to export markets. Qassim also ranks third nationally in the number of date processing plants, reflecting a strong industrial and value-chain base.

For residents and businesses across the Kingdom, the region's growth signals wider availability of local varieties, expanding job opportunities in agriculture and processing, and a stronger platform for Saudi dates in international markets.

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