Today, Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates in the world. The Kingdom has rich experience in date cultivation and it offers a quality selection of including both soft and dried dates. In fact, there are more than 300 types of dates in Saudi Arabia each having its own different taste and texture. This will be visible either in the market or in the Saudi Arabian oasis, where the palm trees stand tall with their branches outstretched towards the sky and their roots anchored deep into the earth.
It is also interesting to note here that the Kingdom has the highest number of palm trees in the world with more than 23 million trees accounting for 20 percent of the world production. More than 200,000 tons of dates valued at SR2.5 billion has been made available during the ongoing 75-day Buraidah dates festival for customers from the Kingdom and neighboring countries to buy.
But, dates are not mere dates. It has rich medicinal properties besides its religious importance in Islam. In fact, dates are highly nutritional and considered by many to be one of natures most perfect foods.Date palms cover three percent of the earths cultivated surface, giving mankind one of the best varieties of food without much efforts. In Saudi Arabia, palm trees are generously planted along the sides of every major city street, and elegant houses' landscapes in Saudi Arabia. The icon of the beautiful palm tree is ubiquitous; one is bombarded with it everywhere in Saudi Arabia. The date palm tree is incorporated in the national emblem of Saudi Arabia to represent vitality and growth. A number of studies conducted by Saudi institutions have proved the vital importance of the date fruit and the date palm to the Saudi culture. A historical background regarding the date palm followed by its general characteristics, cultivation, uses and products are inescapable. A new research says it has found evidence that the Ajwa date from Madinah contains active elements useful in the prevention of diseases like cancer. The research was carried out in Riyadh-based King Saud University (KSU) to discover the health benefits of Ajwa dates, which resulted in the finding that the fruit has anti-inflammatory properties similar to commercially available drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. On the other hand, Ajwa dates are host favorite among pilgrims who arrive in Saudi Arabia for Haj, Umrah, business or for leisure. Haj pilgrims across the world prefer to have a memorable gift from Saudi Arabia, Ajwa - soft dry variety of date fruit - whether a pilgrim from Buraidah, United Kingdom or Bangladesh it doesn't matter, all prefer to have a taste as well a pack back home.
Packed dates of Ajwa are available across the Kingdom especially in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah including departure lounges of international airports. It's the only dates that have attractive style of packing and lowest weight packs. Saudi Arabia having world's highest number of palm trees and harvest about 35 varieties of dates and Ajwa is primer among it.
A large number of Saudi population is in fact addicted to eating dates. The dates are common on their dining tables. They know about the benefits of this wonderful fruit. A 100 gram portion of fresh dates is a premium source of vitamin C. Since dates contain relatively little water, they do not become much more concentrated upon drying, although the vitamin C disappears in the process. Each date provides about 20 calories, and is a good source of carbohydrate, fiber, and potassium, also providing some calcium and iron along with other vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts.
Dates do not have significant amounts of fat, cholesterol, protein, or sodium. Wonderfully delicious, dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being. Fresh dates compose of soft, easily digestible flesh and simple sugars like fructose and dextrose. When eaten, they replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly. For these qualities, they are being used to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan since ancient times. As said earlier, this fruit is also rich in dietary fiber, which prevents LDL cholesterol absorption in the gut. Additionally, the fiber works as a bulk laxative. It, thus, helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time and as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon. On the other hand, they contain health benefiting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins. Tannins are known to possess anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.
The dates are moderate sources of vitamin-A, which is known to have antioxidant properties and essential for vision. Additionally, it is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. They compose antioxidant flavonoids such as ß-carotene, lutein, and zea-xanthin. These antioxidants found to have the ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from harmful effects of oxygen-free radicals. Thus, eating dates found to offer some protection from colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Not only this, dates are an excellent source of iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Further, they are very good in potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help controlling heart rate and blood pressure. They, thus, offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
Further, the fruit has adequate levels of B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. These vitamins are acting as cofactors help body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamin K is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism. These nutritional properties in dates come from their growth in the deserts of the Kingdom and the Arab world. Dates pass by different stages during growth, the first is the hard date of yellow color called (Khalall), and the next stage will be the two halves dates consists of two colors yellow, which is the hard half and soft one is the light brown called (Munassif). The next stage is when the whole of fruit turns into soft light brown called (Rutab), and lastly the fully grown stage when the dark brown fruit is called (Tamr). All the previous stages are eatable with different taste. The transformation between stages takes about for one month.
In Saudi Arabia, the shops selling dates (Souk Al Tamr) become very crowded during the holy month of fasting (Ramadan). As it is the first food to start with after fasting. The succulent edible date fruit, in the form of all varieties, is one of the most valued foods in Saudi Arabia today. It also has religious values as well as cultural importance. The date palm has been a source of valued food for the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. All parts of the palm tree were put to use. The wide branches and leaves provided shades from the heat of the strong desert sun.
On the other hand, the fronds have thatched the roof of a desert dweller's hut and provided the basket in which he collected the savory fruit that grew generously on the tree. In the holy Qur'an, the palm tree is referred to as the "blessed tree". When Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) built his mosque in Madinah, the pillars were constructed from the trunks of the palm trees and the roof was woven from palm fronds. In Prophet Mohammed's sayings and actions (Hadith) many quotes have been cited about dates. During the dawn of Islam, Prophet Muhammad lived for months on dates and water alone. It has been reported in Hadith that a house without dates is a hungry household. He also reported that if seven dates accompanied with water were to be consumed every morning, one is protected from disease and evil. The special kind of date he referred to is particularly grown in Madinah, (the second holy city in Saudi Arabia- also called the city of palm), where it is still cultivated to this day.
Another important religious link to dates is embedded in the didactic story mentioned in the Quran about the birth of the Prophet Jesus. The story is that when the Virgin Mary was giving birth, she heard a voice telling her: " Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards thee: it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon thee. Eat, then and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened" (Qur'an 19:25-26). Therefore, it has been long believed that the consumption of dates during pregnancy and delivery is most beneficial for ease of delivery. Many other verses make mention of the importance of the date palm in the Qur'an. The older generation of Saudis values dates more than the younger generation. However, both generations consume dates during one whole month of the year. During the fasting month of Ramadan, almost all fasting Muslims break their fast by sunset with a few dates, preferably in odd numbers [3,5,or7] and with a few sips of water as done by the prophet of Islam.

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