Seasonal Date Markets in Saudi Arabia Are Going Digital

As the date harvest season arrives in Saudi Arabia, the National Centre for Palms and Dates is introducing a new electronic platform for the trading of dates in seasonal markets. The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, will require all those wishing to buy, sell, or trade dates in seasonal markets to register on the platform.

The new digital system is expected to streamline and regulate the trading of dates, which had traditionally been sold at auction in key provincial markets. It provides a range of benefits, including real-time monitoring of sales and average prices, simplifying the buying and selling process, and expanding date traders' access to a broader range of markets.

The centre emphasized the system’s importance in achieving its strategic goal of improving the efficiency of seasonal date markets and promoting sustainable development by creating market efficiencies and strengthening competitiveness.

Saudi Arabia has over 36 million palm trees, capable of producing approximately 1.6 million tons of dates annually, with exports amounting to SAR 1.462 billion to 119 countries worldwide. Digitalization and modernization have played key roles in recent years in boosting date production in the Kingdom and making it the world’s top exporter.

The system has already been rolled out in the date market of Buraydah, and other regional markets such as Unaizah, AlAhsa, AlKharj, AlUla, and Madinah are preparing to do the same.