Israel’s Dominance in the Medjool Date Market Draws Scrutiny During Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, dates top the list of foods consumed worldwide. Among date lovers, Medjool dates are especially popular for their rich taste, soft texture and high nutritional value, leading to a surge in demand during fasting hours.

However, many consumers may be surprised to learn that Israel is currently the world’s largest supplier of Medjool dates. A significant portion of these dates is cultivated on land occupied from Palestine, according to reports by Al Jazeera.

Approximately 50% of the Medjool dates consumed globally originate from Israel, with a large share reportedly grown in settlements built on occupied Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley, particularly around Jericho in the West Bank. Palestinian vendors have claimed that many of these farms are located on land seized from local owners.

Labeling and Origin Concerns
Because many of the plantations are situated in occupied territories, product labeling has become controversial. Packages may be marked as “Product of Israel” or “Jordan Valley Produce,” which critics argue obscures the true origin of the goods. These dates are exported widely to the United States, Europe and Arab countries.

Under European law, products originating from occupied territories must clearly indicate their place of origin and cannot simply be labeled as Israeli products. However, compliance has reportedly been inconsistent. Some exporters are said to repackage goods through intermediary countries or free trade zones to mask the original production site before entering European markets.

Growing Global Market
The global date market was valued at approximately $32.7 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $34.5 billion in 2026. With an average annual growth rate of 6.14%, the market is expected to expand to $55.58 billion by 2034.

The Middle East and Africa region produces more than 9 million tons of dates annually, accounting for 85.28% of the global market share in 2025. The regional market was valued at $27.89 billion in 2025 and is forecast to rise to $29.43 billion in 2026.

Major producing and consuming countries include Tunisia, Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Egypt. Egypt alone produces more than 1.7 million tons annually.

Although Israel’s overall date production is lower than that of Egypt or Saudi Arabia, it holds a significant position in the export of premium Medjool dates. Questions have arisen over discrepancies between production and export figures. Data suggest that Israel exports around 35,000 tons of dates annually, while recognized production within its internationally acknowledged borders stands at about 8,800 tons. If accurate, this would indicate that roughly 75% of exported Israeli dates may originate from occupied Palestinian land.