During the sacred month of Ramadan, dates hold a special significance in the iftar meals of Muslims worldwide. At the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, more than 1.5 million dates are provided daily to fasting individuals as part of a large-scale distribution effort. These dates are included in 227 pre-packaged meal sets, each containing seven dates, ensuring that every fasting person has nourishment to break their fast before the Maghrib prayer.
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Madinah, renowned for its high-quality dates, offers a diverse range of varieties to those observing Ramadan. Among the most well-known types distributed at the mosque are Ruthana, Ajwa, Anbara, Safawi, Saq’i, Barni Al-Madinah, Barni Al-Ays, Bayda’ Al-Mahd, Al-Mabroum, Al-Hilya, Al-Jubaili, Al-Labbana, Al-Mashrouk, Al-Majdool, Al-Rabi’a, and Al-Shalabi. These dates, cultivated from local farms, hold deep historical and cultural significance in the region.
Madinah’s date production is vast, with over seven million palm trees spread across 29,000 farms, yielding approximately 340,000 tons of dates annually. This accounts for around 18% of Saudi Arabia’s total date production. These dates are not only sold fresh in markets but are also processed and packaged for various culinary uses. With 44 dedicated factories specializing in date processing and packaging, Madinah plays a crucial role in sustaining the date industry while maintaining the rich tradition of providing iftar meals at the Prophet’s Mosque.