Quick answer
To export dates from Saudi Arabia, the shipment is inspected at an accredited export centre and receives the National Center for Palms and Dates Date Export Certificate before it reaches the port; this has been mandatory since 1 October 2025. Fresh dates carry no ZATCA export-side code. Safe Hands files the FASAH declaration, arranges the certificate of origin and books reefer or dry containers.
What does a date export need?
| Market size | Saudi date exports reached SAR 1.938 billion in 2025, up 14.3%, to more than 125 countries. (SPA: Saudi date exports reach SAR 1.938 billion in 2025 (25 Apr 2026)) |
| Date Export Certificate | Since 1 October 2025 every date export needs a Date Export Certificate from the National Center for Palms and Dates, issued after inspection at an accredited export centre before the goods reach the port. Conditions include new packaging and freedom from pests. (National Center for Palms and Dates: date export platform) |
| ZATCA tariff | Fresh dates (HS 0804.10) carry no export-side procedure code in the ZATCA integrated tariff. (ZATCA Integrated Tariff: clearance and exporting procedure codes) |
| European Union | The EU does not require a phytosanitary certificate for dates from any third country. (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annex XI Part C) |
| Export declaration | Filed on FASAH; ZATCA customs service fees on exports are waived since 6 October 2024. (ZATCA: customs service fees on exports waived from 6 Oct 2024) |
| Certificate of origin | Through the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources e-service: the GCC form for the Gulf, the Arab-country form for GAFTA destinations and the general form elsewhere. (Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: certificate of origin e-service) |
Official sources checked 13–14 October 2026. Destination rules are confirmed with your buyer for every shipment.
How do dates move?
Reefer containers and trucks
For fresh (rutab) and premium dates, and for long transits or summer departures.
Dry containers
For cured tamr dates in the cool season.
Trucks to the GCC
Through the land border for each Gulf destination, crossing confirmed per shipment.
What we handle
FASAH export declaration, certificate of origin, booking, trucking to Jeddah, Dammam or the GCC borders, and the document pack with the NCPD certificate and the SFDA export certificate where your buyer asks for it.
Sources
- SPA: Saudi date exports reach SAR 1.938 billion in 2025 (25 Apr 2026)
- National Center for Palms and Dates: date export platform
- ZATCA Integrated Tariff: clearance and exporting procedure codes
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annex XI Part C
- ZATCA: customs service fees on exports waived from 6 Oct 2024
- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: certificate of origin e-service
- SFDA guide: validity certificate to export food products
Official pages, checked 13–14 October 2026. General information, not legal advice; we confirm the documents for each shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
QWhat is the NCPD Date Export Certificate?
The certificate the National Center for Palms and Dates issues for every date export since 1 October 2025, after the shipment is inspected at an accredited export centre before it reaches the port.
QIs the date export certificate mandatory?
Yes. Since 1 October 2025 every date shipment needs it; conditions include new packaging and freedom from pests.
QDo dates have a ZATCA export code?
Fresh dates (HS 0804.10) carry no export-side procedure code in the ZATCA integrated tariff; the date-specific requirement is the NCPD certificate.
QDoes the EU need a phytosanitary certificate for dates?
No. Under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annex XI Part C, dates from any third country are exempt from the phytosanitary certificate.
QCan dates ship in reefer containers?
Yes. We book reefer containers and reefer trucks for fresh and premium dates, and dry containers for cured tamr dates in the cool season.
QContainer or truck to the GCC?
For the Gulf we truck through the land border for each destination; full containers by sea suit other markets. The crossing and route are confirmed per shipment.
QIs there a customs fee on date exports?
ZATCA waived its customs service fees on exports from 6 October 2024.
QWhich certificate of origin do dates need?
It comes from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources e-service; the form depends on the destination (GCC, Arab-country or general). We confirm it for every shipment.
QHow big are Saudi date exports?
SAR 1.938 billion in 2025, up 14.3%, to more than 125 countries (SPA).
Our credentials
- Licensed customs broker
- ZATCA customs clearance
- TGA Freight Forwarder & Broker Licence
- 42/00008120
- ISO certification
- ISO 9001:2015 AMER300621 · ISO 45001:2018 AMER300622
- Verify · Certification body's certificate check
- Head office · Warehouse
- 7273 Fatimah Al Zahraa Rd, Riyadh 12837 · Al Sulay industrial district, Riyadh
Safe Hands Shipping Line is the trade name of شركة الايدي الامينة (Al Aidi Al Amina Company). All credentials →
Ship your dates with the export certificate and documents ready
Tell us the variety, pack, packing city, destination and containers or trucks per month; our team sends a written quote.