Global date market booms: Arab countries dominate Ramadan 2025 demand
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The Arab date trade flourished during Ramadan 2025, driven by rising demand linked to Iftar, with Arab countries dominating global production. Based on 2025 data, demand increased by up to 80% in countries like the UAE, supported by strong exports from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
⭕ Arab countries lead the world in date production, with Egypt producing approximately 1.87 million tons annually, Saudi Arabia 1.9 million tons, and Iraq 640 thousand tons in 2023, alongside export growth in 2024. The global date market reached around $32.7 billion in 2025, with Middle Eastern countries accounting for about 85% of it.
⭕ Iran exported 350 thousand tons of dates to Islamic countries during Ramadan, valued at $400 million, while Iraq’s exports rose to 730 thousand tons in 2024. In the UAE, demand for dates increased by 80% during Ramadan 2025, with more than 34 brands available. Morocco imported 100 thousand tons, worth 1.3 billion dirhams in 2025, from Tunisia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, despite local production of 160 thousand tons.
⭕ Following Iran’s temporary export ban to European and Turkish markets, opportunities emerged for Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. Egypt also experienced a 30% increase in exports compared to Ramadan 2024, driven by the improved quality of Egyptian dates.
