Assalamu Alaikum - AlUla’s dates sector boosts tourism and sustainability
Assalamu Alaikum - Madinah’s Taibah University held a community event called “Turn Your Farm into a Visitor Spot” at Al‑Manshiyah Farmers Market in AlUla, as part of the AlUla Dates Festival.
The gathering aimed to help farmers, encourage date palm cultivation, and grow businesses around date products. It focused on promoting agritourism and inspiring investment so farms can welcome visitors, giving farmers another source of income and enriching the experience for guests who come to see AlUla’s natural and historical sites.
The festival, which runs until Nov. 15, highlights how the date palm is central to the region’s agricultural identity. Organizers emphasized balancing traditional farming knowledge with modern, sustainable methods, creating chances for local producers to display their goods.
AlUla is one of the Kingdom’s major date‑producing areas, with over 15,000 hectares of palm farms managed under the Royal Commission for AlUla. Those farms include more than 4.1 million palms and yield around 170,000 tons of different date varieties each year. The main harvesting season is from Aug. 15 to Oct. 30, a period of lively economic activity. The Barni date is the area’s most well‑known type and makes up roughly 80% of the yearly harvest.
Recent seasons have shown solid sales and visitor interest - last year’s auction and market drew many people and generated important revenue for growers. This year’s season also saw strong sales, and expectations are that numbers will rise again next season.
In recent years AlUla’s agricultural work has expanded through training programs that reached over 2,500 people (including farmers and students), accreditation of many farms under national date programs, and care for tens of thousands of palms through improved fertilization and pest control. Local markets like Al‑Manshiyah have helped link visitors directly with farmers, supporting regional and international promotion of products. The market also hosts interactive sessions with chefs who celebrate AlUla’s heritage and try inventive ways to use dates in new dishes.
May Allah bless efforts that support farmers, preserve traditions, and promote sustainable livelihoods in our communities.
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