Date Palm Subsidy Requirements 2026: Registration Guide to Support Date Farmers
The National Center for Palms and Dates announced the opening of registration for the agricultural subsidies program for the 2026 season (1447/1448 AH), in a step aimed at strengthening the palm and date sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, supporting farmers, and raising production efficiency in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Registration begins on Sunday, February 23, 2026, and continues until Thursday, April 2, 2026.
General context and importance of the palm and date sector
The date palm holds a deep symbolic and historical place in Saudi heritage. It is not merely a source of food, but an integral part of the Kingdom's cultural and economic identity. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest date producers, contributing significantly to national food security and the development of non-oil exports. These government initiatives, such as the subsidy program, are part of a broader strategic framework aimed at developing the agricultural sector sustainably, diversifying income sources, and transforming the Kingdom into a leading global center for the date industry. This will be achieved by adopting best modern agricultural practices and using innovative technologies to increase productivity and rationalize water consumption.
Expected impact of the subsidies program
The subsidy program aims to achieve a multi-dimensional positive impact. Locally, the financial support empowers small and medium-sized farmers to improve their agricultural practices, cover a portion of their production costs, and encourage them to adopt high-quality standards. The program also promotes environmental sustainability by requiring water conservation certification, thus supporting the Kingdom's efforts to preserve its scarce water resources. Regionally and internationally, enhancing the efficiency and quality of local production of Saudi dates strengthens their competitiveness in global markets, supports the "Saudi Dates" brand, and increases export volumes, solidifying the Kingdom's position as a key player in the global date market.
Registration requirements for palm tree subsidies for the 2026 season
The National Center for Palms and Dates has identified 5 basic requirements that applicants must meet in order to benefit from the support, which are as follows:
- Ownership or lease: The applicant must be the owner of the farm or a lessee of it under a formal contract.
- Nationality and age: The applicant must be a Saudi national, and his age must not be less than 21 years.
- Agricultural license: The applicant must have a license to practice agricultural activity from the “Hasr” platform.
- Area and number of palm trees: The area of the farm should not exceed 50 dunams, and the number of productive (fruit-bearing) palm trees should not exceed 500 palm trees as a maximum.
- Water conservation: Obtaining a water conservation certificate is necessary to confirm commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
Prioritization mechanism
The center explained that if the number of applicants who meet the conditions exceeds the target number, a selection mechanism will be applied to determine the beneficiaries based on the following priority criteria: those who have a self-employment document, those with the lowest income, those who are married, and those who are older, in order to ensure that support reaches the most deserving groups.
