Buraidah Dates Market Taxi — World's Largest Dates Market
Taxi to Buraidah Dates Market (Souq Al-Tamr) — the world's largest dates trading market. 100+ varieties, fresh Sukkari Rutab, wholesale auctions. Active August–September harvest season. Fixed rate, hotel pickup.
Buraidah Dates Market — What to Know
The Market
The Souq Al-Tamr is a purpose-built market complex in northern Buraidah — open from before dawn during the harvest season. Wholesale buyers arrive early (5–8am) for the auctions. Retail visitors can browse the hundreds of vendor stalls selling every variety, size, and ripeness level of date produced in Qassim.
Best time: early morning, first week of festival.
Sukkari — The Crown Date
Sukkari (meaning 'sugar') is Qassim's signature date — soft, sweet, with a texture like caramel meringue at full ripeness. The fresh Rutab-stage Sukkari available during harvest is incomparably better than the dried version sold year-round. Buying directly from the market at harvest is the only way to get the genuine fresh article.
Sukkari Rutab: soft yellow/amber, crumbles when fully ripe.
The Festival (Mahrajan Al-Tamr)
Beyond the trading, the Dates Festival is a cultural event — traditional Najdi music and dance performances, cooking demonstrations of date-based dishes, heritage exhibitions on date palm cultivation, and agricultural awards for the best produce. It draws visitors from across Saudi Arabia and Gulf states.
Festival runs 3–4 weeks, core trading fortnight.