AlUla Dates Season runs from 18 to 26 September 2026.
AlManshiyah Farmers’ Market will showcase produce, local food and handicrafts.
AlUla is home to more than 4.2 million date palms and centuries-old harvesting traditions.
The annual celebration runs from 18 to 26 September 2026, shining a spotlight on AlUla’s farmers, palm groves and centuries-old agricultural traditions.
Dates have long been part of daily life in Saudi Arabia, but in AlUla, the fruit represents far more than a sweet snack. This September, the destination will celebrate its agricultural heritage with the return of AlUla Dates Season, taking place from Friday, 18 to Saturday, 26 September 2026.
Coinciding with the annual harvest, the celebration will highlight the farmers, communities and traditions that have shaped AlUla’s palm groves for generations. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore local produce, meet growers and learn more about an agricultural practice that has supported communities across the region for thousands of years.
One of the main attractions will be the Date Season activation at AlManshiyah Farmers’ Market, bringing together freshly harvested produce, handcrafted goods from local artisans and dishes prepared by the local community. The 2026 Date Auction will also return to the Equestrian Village, where farmers from across the region will gather to present some of their finest produce, creating a lively showcase of the annual harvest.
Date cultivation in AlUla can be traced back to at least the first millennium BCE. References to the fruit can even be found among the ancient inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah, the heritage site often described as an open-air library.
Today, AlUla contains more than 4.2 million date palms, and the crop remains the destination’s dominant agricultural activity. Production increased from 1.7 million kilograms in 2024 to 2.2 million kilograms in 2025. Visitors can discover varieties including Anbarah, Barni, Hamrah, Majdool and Safawi, with each developing different flavours and textures thanks to AlUla’s oases and desert environment.
The season will also highlight Jadd AlNakhil, a traditional date-harvesting practice. Farmers would climb the palms using belts made from twisted ropes before cutting the ripe date clusters, known as Qunou. During the harvest, they would recite the blessing: “Ya Rabb Al-Muqbilah Zawdha” — “Oh Lord, increase the yield of the coming year.”
AlUla’s fertile soil and freshwater have helped farmers in the region care for the palm trees, which have been a source of prosperity in Saudi Arabia. Some of the best dates in the world, such as Barni Dates and the Black and Red Helwa Dates, are produced in AlUla.
Contact: experiencealula.com