Amman:The date industry in Jordan has attracted investments exceeding $500 million and currently exports about 65 percent of its production. Annual export revenues are projected to reach JD150 million as newly planted areas begin full production, as reported by Anwar Haddad, Chair of the Jordan Dates Association.
According to Jordan News Agency, Haddad revealed during a session at the Jordan Economic Forum titled "Jordanian Dates: Promising Opportunities and a Driver of Growth," that Jordan hosts around 1 million date palms across over 700 farms spanning more than 56,000 dunums, producing over 37,000 metric tons annually.
Over 85 percent of these palms are Medjool dates, about 10 percent are Barhi, and the remaining 5 percent include other varieties. The sector provides employment for more than 10,000 individuals, with women holding over 40 percent of these jobs. The industry also supports 15 processing and packing facilities with a combined capacity of 20,000 tons annually. Currently, per capita date consumption in Jordan is approximately 4 kilograms per year.
Haddad estimates current annual exports at around JD60 million, with Medjool dates comprising the majority of shipments, though there is increasing demand for Barhi dates.
The expansion of the date industry has been significant over the past 25 years. In 2000, production was 1,321 tons across 2,640 dunums, which grew to 37,000 tons across 56,000 dunums by 2026. Similarly, exports rose from 720 tons worth $473,000 in 2001 to 20,083 tons valued at nearly $72 million in 2024.
The commercial cultivation of Medjool dates in Jordan began in the early 1990s in the central Jordan Valley, with trees starting to produce commercially around 1999-2000. Date farms now extend throughout the northern, central, and southern Jordan Valley, as well as regions like the Baptism Site area, Azraq, and Aqaba. The climate and growing conditions in Jordan, particularly in the Jordan Valley, contribute to the unique characteristics of Jordanian dates.
Scientific research has supported the sector's development, including a 1995 study that recommended Medjool dates for their compatibility with local conditions. The industry benefits from national standards for Jordanian dates and the 2020-2030 National Strategy for Date Palm Cultivation. Modern practices such as advanced irrigation, fertilization systems, and digital farm-management technologies are now integral to production.
Labor represents about 70 percent of production costs, but Haddad suggested that increased technology use could enhance quality and efficiency while reducing expenses.
Currently, more than 60 percent of palm holdings in the Jordan Valley are medium-sized, with farms exceeding 250 dunums accounting for about 2 percent. New cultivation in Wadi Araba, largely dependent on groundwater, is not yet accounted for in these figures.
Challenges facing the sector include water availability, labor costs, pest control, and international competition. However, opportunities such as growing global demand for dates, technological advances, and increased consumer awareness of nutritional value offer potential for further growth.
Omar Malhas, Deputy Board of Trustees Chair of the Jordan Economic Forum, highlighted the promise of the date industry for future investment and export growth. The forum concluded with discussions on enhancing international market access and addressing key challenges to bolster the competitiveness of Jordanian dates.