AlUla — 10 Jumada al-Awwal 1447 AH / 1 November 2025.

AlUla Governorate has concluded the first phase of AlUla Dates Season 2025, dedicated to the weekly date auction, while the second phase, the accompanying farmers market, has begun and will run until 15 November, as part of the Royal Commission for AlUla's efforts to support agricultural development and boost economic returns for the local sector.

The dates season embodies the essence of the "AlUla's Bounty" initiative, one of the governorate's most prominent agricultural resources, reflecting farmers' historic connection to palm trees and highlighting AlUla's role in strengthening food security and diversifying the local economy in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

AlUla is home to more than 4.1 million palm trees spanning over 15,000 hectares, producing around 170,000 tons of dates annually, cementing its status as one of the Kingdom's most important agricultural oases.

During the 2023 dates season, auction sales exceeded 12.8 million riyals, in addition to 400,000 riyals from the accompanying market, while the 2024 season recorded sales of 1.7 million kilograms with total revenues exceeding 8.8 million riyals. The 2025 season is expected to see a further rise in sales volume, with results to be announced at the season's close.

The season concludes with "Shannah Day," which celebrates one of the oldest methods of preserving dates in the Arabian Peninsula. AlUla's residents were known for making the "shannah" and "majlad", storage containers made from sheepskin and palm fronds, to preserve dates for long periods. The Royal Commission works to revive this agricultural heritage every year as part of the season's events, preserving local heritage and promoting the sustainability of authentic agricultural knowledge.

AlUla's agriculture sector has also seen notable growth indicators recently, including the training of more than 2,500 beneficiaries, among them 95 farmers and 250 students, the certification of 250 farms under the Saudi Dates Program, and the treatment of 120,000 palm trees under the Cultural Oasis initiative through fertilization and pest control. The Al-Muazzam and Al-Manshiyah markets were also opened and the Sukhairat market developed, helping connect visitors and consumers directly with farmers and boosting the marketing of agricultural products locally and internationally.