Mexico, UAE Strengthen Cooperation Through Date Palm Festival

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the government of Sonora, Universidad Estatal de Sonora (UES), and the Khalifa International Award announced the fourth edition of the International Date Palm Festival in Mexico, a platform for scientific, technical, and commercial cooperation between Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. The event will take place from Nov. 27 to 29, 2025.

The festival will be hosted in the states of Baja California and Sonora, featuring exhibitions, symposiums, specialized forums, and cultural activities aimed at promoting knowledge exchange, innovation, and the global positioning of Mexican dates.

Ena Reséndiz, Director General of Sectoral Agreement Implementation, SADER, emphasized that the date palm has gained increasing importance in Mexico as a strategic crop, a source of employment, and a key driver for strengthening rural economies in San Luis iColorado, Sonora, and the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, where most national production is concentrated.

Eder Salas Jiménez, Deputy Director of International Agricultural Operations, SADER, highlighted the importance of support from the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (KIADPAI), through which Mexico became the first Latin American country to join its international network. This collaboration has helped position Mexican dates as a product with distinct identity, quality, and global potential.

Mexico produces around 21,000t of dates annually, of which approximately 50% are exported to markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United Arab Emirates. The remaining production is consumed domestically, mainly in major cities such as Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Cancun, where a kilogram of dates sells for MX$200 to MX$250 (US$10.9– US$13.6).

Mexican production focuses on the Medjool variety, known for its balanced sweetness, fleshy texture, and large size. The strong demand for high-quality Mexican dates has positioned the country as the fourth-largest producer of Medjool dates worldwide.

Beyond traditional date commercialization, new initiatives have emerged in the region, such as La Ruta del Dátil (The Date Route), an experience that combines agriculture, tourism, and gastronomy. In Mexicali, the tour begins at plantations where visitors can observe towering 10m-high date palms and witness processes such as pollination, harvesting, and fruit rolling.

Producers have also partnered with private companies to offer a broader range of experiences and products, including spicy date candies, date-based spirits, and a fusion beverage made from Veracruz coffee and dates. These initiatives aim to create an industry around the fruit, reduce dependency on exports, and encourage its transformation into high-value products that appeal to local consumers.