Riyadh: Under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, Acting General Supervisor of the National Center for Palms and Dates Ahmed Al-Ayada launched a promotional campaign yesterday to introduce date-flavored products across major retail markets in the Kingdom.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the campaign aims to position dates as a premium local ingredient and expand their use across a wide range of food products, aligning with modern consumption trends and thereby enhancing the economic value of dates.

Al-Ayada emphasized that dates hold deep cultural and symbolic significance in Saudi society, reflecting national identity and heritage, while also being a complete, nutrient-rich, high-quality local food.

He added that the campaign showcases the extensive potential of dates as a key ingredient across multiple food sectors, including baked goods, dairy products, beverages, and snacks. It also supports research and development efforts to create innovative date-flavored products aimed at increasing domestic consumption.

The campaign featured the participation of several leading national food companies, including more than 10 food manufacturers and over 20 restaurants and caf©s across the Kingdom. It has also been rolled out in several schools and through food delivery apps, reflecting growing interest among companies in incorporating date flavors into processed products that meet consumer preferences while adhering to international quality and food safety standards.

The palm and date sector in the Kingdom continues to witness strong growth, achieving record levels in production and export value in recent years. Saudi dates are now exported to 133 countries worldwide. Saudi Arabia's date production has surpassed 1.9 million tons, with export revenues reaching approximately SAR1.7 billion, making the Kingdom the world's leading exporter of dates.