- From visits to its palm groves in AlUla Oasis to the farmers’ market and date auction, AlUla’s annual celebration offers travellers an authentic taste of the destination’s heritage
AlUla, Saudi Arabia – September 2026: The vibrant AlUla Dates season is set to return this month to celebrate the farmers and communities who have cultivated the destination’s palm groves for generations. Taking place during the date-harvesting season from 18th to 26th September, the season will invite visitors to discover the traditions and people that continue to shape AlUla’s agricultural identity.
At the heart of the programme, the Date Season activation at AlManshiyah Farmers’ Market will bring together farm-fresh produce, handcrafted goods from local artisans and locally prepared food. Set near the AlManshiyah Plaza, the market will offer visitors an opportunity to meet local producers, browse seasonal products and experience one of AlUla’s lively hubs of trade and community.
The 2026 Date Auction, held at the Equestrian Village, will see farmers from across the region gather to present the finest of their harvest. Visitors can experience the energy of this important annual tradition while learning more about the growers whose knowledge and connection to the land have been passed down for years.
Dates have been woven into AlUla’s story since at least the first millennium BCE. Their cultural significance is reflected in ancient inscriptions on the rock faces of Jabal Ikmah, an ‘open-air library’ that is one of the destination’s most renowned heritage sites.
Rich heritage of dates:
Today, AlUla is home to more than 4.2 million date palms, with date cultivation remaining the destination’s dominant agricultural activity. Date volumes rose from 1.7 million kg in 2024 to 2.2 million kg in 2025, highlighting the continued importance of the crop to the local economy.
Visitors can discover a range of regional varieties, including Barni, Anbarah, Safawi, Hamrah and Majdool, alongside other local cultivars. Each offers a distinctive taste and texture shaped by AlUla’s fertile oases and desert landscape.
The AlUla dates season also shines a light on Jadd AlNakhil, a traditional harvesting practice from the past that helped maintain the quality and productivity of the palms. Jadd means cutting, while Jadd AlNakhil refers to the harvesting of ripe dates and the careful renewal of the palm after the fruit has matured.
The process was carried out collectively. Once the dates were ready, farmers and their helpers climbed the palms using a traditional belt made from twisted ropes, designed to support the back as they work. They cut the ripe date clusters, known as Qunou, while reciting the blessing, ‘Ya Rabb AlMuqbilah Zawdha’ — “Oh Lord, increase the yield of the coming year.” The clusters were then lowered to the ground, where women gathered and sorted the dates into baskets woven from palm fronds.
For culturally curious travellers, AlUla’s dates season is an invitation to encounter the ancient heritage destination through its farmers and living traditions – from the bustle of the market and auction to the enduring rituals of the palm groves. It also reflects AlUla’s commitment to preserving its heritage, supporting local farming communities and strengthening a sustainable economy for future generations.
