Buy Khalas for everyday eating, Medjool for big soft dates, Sukkari for a honey-sweet one and Ajwa for the dark, prized one. Dried dates in Dubai cost roughly AED 30-100 a kilo, depending on the variety and the shop, and fresh dates in the summer harvest start from about AED 15-20. This guide covers the varieties, where to buy by the kilo or as a gift box, how to pack them and where our tours put dates on the plate.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
How much do dates cost in Dubai?
Dried dates cost roughly AED 30-100 a kilo, depending on the variety and the shop; Ajwa and large Medjool are at the top. Fresh dates in the summer harvest can start from about AED 15-20 a kilo. Boutique gift boxes cost more because of the packaging.
This guide also answers:
- Why are dates served with Arabic coffee?
- Do your tours include dates?
Five places to buy and taste dates
#1
Souk stalls, by the kilo
A stallholder weighs dates out of open trays, often with a scale beside the counter, and will usually let you taste before you buy. Prices are by the kilo and vary by variety, so ask the price first and ask for the variety by name. This is the cheapest way to buy good dates, and the best for a first try.
#2
Boutiques and gift boxes
Date boutiques sell boxed and stuffed dates, with almonds, pistachios or chocolate, for gifts. Bateel is the best-known brand, with branches in the larger malls. You pay for the packaging and the presentation, so a small box costs well above the same weight at a souk stall. Buy here when you need something giftable and flat to pack.
#3
The Dates Market in Abu Dhabi
Our Abu Dhabi city tour ends with a stop at the Dates Market before the drive back to Dubai, after the Grand Mosque, the BAPS Mandir and Heritage Village. It is a handy place to buy dates in bulk without a separate trip. Prices and the range depend on the stall, so compare two or three before you buy.
#4
Dates and coffee in Al Fahidi
The quarter's heritage houses serve dates with Arabic coffee, the way a host would. Our Old Dubai walk starts with coffee or tea and dates in one of them. It is not a place to buy by the kilo, but it teaches you what a good date tastes like before you pick a variety at the souk.
#5
Date syrup and luqaimat
Date syrup, called dibs, goes on luqaimat, the small fried dough balls, on pancakes and on bread, and bottles of it travel home easily if packed in the hold. Luqaimat are served warm and are the easiest way to taste dates in a dessert, if the plain fruit is too sweet for you.
Dates in Dubai: the short answer
Buy Khalas for everyday eating, Medjool for large soft dates, Sukkari for a golden, honey-sweet one, and Ajwa for the dark, prized one. Dried dates in Dubai cost roughly AED 30-100 a kilo depending on the variety and the shop, and the souk is cheaper than a boutique for the same date. Fresh dates arrive in the summer harvest and can start from about AED 15-20 a kilo.
Dates are the first thing a host puts out with Arabic coffee, the usual way to break the fast in Ramadan and the most useful gift to take home from a short trip. The hard part is not finding them, because shops are everywhere. It is knowing what to ask for, what a fair price looks like and how to carry them home without a sticky bag.
You can taste your way into the topic on our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35. The price includes Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water, so you try them before you shop.
The varieties to know
Many date varieties are grown in the Gulf, and a stall may sell a dozen of them. These are the names that come up most, with how they taste. Names are spelt several ways, so ask the seller to show you the date before you buy.
| Variety | What it is like | Best for | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalas | Soft, moist and caramel-sweet; widely grown in the Gulf | Everyday eating, a first try | Low to mid |
| Medjool | Large, very soft and fudge-like | Stuffing, gifts, a dessert date | Mid to high |
| Sukkari | Golden-brown and honey-sweet; the name means sugary | Anyone with a sweet tooth | Mid to high |
| Ajwa | Dark, almost black, soft and less sweet; prized and often the dearest | Special gifts | Highest |
| Barhi | Eaten fresh at the firm, yellow stage, then soft; a summer date | The summer harvest | Seasonal |
| Khenaizi | Grown in the UAE itself; ask the seller for local dates | Tasting something local | Low to mid |
Price levels are relative. Dried dates are roughly AED 30-100 a kilo, and fresh dates in the summer harvest start from about AED 15-20; prices change with the season and the shop.
Dates are sold at three stages. Khalal dates are firm and eaten fresh, rutab dates are soft and ripe, and tamr dates are fully dried. Most dates in shops are tamr, which keep for weeks, and the fresh ones are a summer treat that disappears quickly.
If you only try one, try a Medjool and a Khalas side by side. They show the extremes: a big, rich, soft fruit and a smaller, lighter, caramel one.
Where to buy: stalls, supermarkets, boutiques and the airport
The best value is at souk stalls and dried-fruit shops, such as those near the Spice Souk in Deira. Sellers weigh dates to order, let you taste and quote a price per kilo; ask for it before they weigh. Start with the spice souk guide and read haggling in the souks before you start talking numbers.
Supermarkets sell packed dates with the variety, origin and weight on the box, which is easier if you do not want to haggle. Boutiques such as Bateel sell boxed, stuffed and chocolate-covered dates, and they cost more because you are paying for the presentation. The airport shops sell gift boxes too, which is handy at the end of the trip, but the price is higher than the souk. Dubai Duty Free has its own guide.
A fair way to shop: taste two or three varieties at a stall, buy half a kilo of the one you liked, and keep the rest of your budget for a boxed gift if you need one. For other souvenirs, see what to buy in Dubai.
Dates as gifts: what travels well
Dates are one of the easiest foods to take home. They are light, sealed boxes are tidy and most varieties keep for weeks in a cool cupboard. A few ideas, from the cheapest up:
- A sealed bag of Khalas or Sukkari from a supermarket or a souk stall, the cheapest and most honest gift.
- A boxed Medjool or Ajwa set from a boutique, for someone who will notice the presentation.
- Stuffed dates, with almonds, pistachios or tahini, and chocolate-covered dates, which keep their shape better in a suitcase than soft fresh ones.
- Date syrup (dibs) in a bottle, for pancakes and desserts. It counts as a liquid, so pack it in the hold, not hand luggage.
- A mixed box with Arabic coffee, because the two belong together; see karak chai and Arabic coffee in Dubai.
Some countries require food to be declared on arrival. Check your own border agency's rules for dried fruit before you pack a kilo. Dates are sweet and calorie-dense, so a few are a snack and a whole box is a lot.
Dates in Ramadan, and the sweets that use them
In Ramadan the fast is traditionally broken with dates and water at sunset, and shops fill with special boxes in the weeks before. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February, subject to the moon sighting, according to the Emirates Astronomical Society. The Ramadan guide says what changes for visitors, and iftar in Dubai for tourists shows where dates fit in the meal.
Outside Ramadan, dates turn up as syrup, paste and fillings. Arabic desserts in Dubai covers luqaimat and the sweets that use date syrup, and Emirati food: what to eat in Dubai puts dates in the wider menu.
Dates on our tours
The $35 Old Dubai walking tour includes Arabic coffee or tea, dates, the abra, water and entry to a heritage house; the $55 option adds Emirati street-food tastings. Full prepayment confirms your place, and cancellation or a date change is free up to 24 hours before the start. The tastings contain gluten and dairy and may contain sesame and nuts, so tell us about allergies when you book. Read Old Dubai food tour for what the tastings are.
The Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45 per person, takes 9 hours from an 8:00 AM hotel pickup and includes a stop at the Dates Market before the return. The evening quad bike safari, from $70, welcomes you at the camp with Arabic coffee and dates. Neither is a shopping trip, so if you want to buy by the kilo, plan a souk visit separately.
FAQ
How much do dates cost in Dubai?
Dried dates cost roughly AED 30-100 a kilo, depending on the variety and the shop; Ajwa and large Medjool are at the top. Fresh dates in the summer harvest can start from about AED 15-20 a kilo. Boutique gift boxes cost more because of the packaging.
Which dates should I try first?
Khalas for a soft, caramel-sweet everyday date, and Medjool for a large, soft, fudge-like one. Taste them side by side at a souk stall, then add Sukkari or Ajwa if you want to compare.
Where is the best place to buy dates in Dubai?
For value, a souk stall or dried-fruit shop near the Spice Souk in Deira, where you can taste and buy by the kilo. For gifts, a boutique such as Bateel. Supermarkets and the airport are easier but cost more or give less choice.
Can I take dates home from Dubai?
Usually yes; dried dates are light and keep for weeks. Some countries require food to be declared on arrival, so check your own border agency's rules. Date syrup counts as a liquid, so pack it in the hold.
Why are dates served with Arabic coffee?
The sweetness of the date balances the bitterness of the unsweetened coffee, so you eat the date first and then drink. It is the standard welcome, and our Old Dubai walk, from $35, starts with it.
What is the difference between fresh and dried dates?
Fresh dates (khalal and rutab) are firm or soft and available in the summer harvest, and they keep for a short time. Dried dates (tamr) are the ones in shops all year, and they keep for weeks.
Do your tours include dates?
Yes. The Old Dubai walking tour from $35 includes dates with Arabic coffee or tea, the Abu Dhabi city tour from $45 stops at the Dates Market, and the evening quad safari from $70 welcomes you with Arabic coffee and dates.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
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- Area
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- Format
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It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
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It is the desert safari for people who want to drive, not just ride along: a full hour on a self-drive quad is part of the price, from $70 per person on a bike shared by two guests or $105 on your own quad. The rest of the evening is the classic camp programme — sandboarding, a camel ride, sunset photos, Arabic coffee and dates, henna for women, a live BBQ buffet and the shows — with hotel pickup and no prepayment.
- Duration
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Photos: Boutiques and gift boxes — Dakstor, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).