At Zayed Port in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi Dates Market is a place to browse regional dates and sweets, with vendors offering tastes before you choose. Look for varieties such as Medjool, Khalas and Ajwa, alongside dates filled with nuts or coated in chocolate. You can also find dried fruit, nuts, spices and date syrup, making this a practical stop for edible souvenirs. Prices are negotiable, so take time to compare options and ask about the varieties before buying.
A market for dates and regional treats
Abu Dhabi Dates Market is in Mina Zayed, at Zayed Port. Also known locally as Mina Dates Market, it brings together stalls selling dates from the UAE and nearby parts of the region. You can browse fresh and dried varieties, with differences in colour, texture and taste.
Medjool, Khalas and Ajwa are among the varieties found here. Some stalls also carry nuts, dried fruit, spices, local sweets and other date products. The selection makes the market useful if you want to compare types before choosing dates to take home.
Sample, compare and choose
Stallholders may offer samples, so taste a few varieties before deciding what suits you. Plain dates are only one option: look for dates filled with nuts or orange peel, chocolate-coated dates, and date syrup. Chocolate, candied sweets, jams and spreads add more choices for gifts.
Prices can be negotiated. Ask about the cost and compare products before making a purchase. If you are shopping for a particular variety or product, tell the seller what you are looking for; stallholders can help you find it.
The market building
The market building was designed by Spectrum Engineering and is arranged in eight zones with varying roof heights. Its interior is light-filled and planned to evoke the feel of an outdoor market. The structure gives shoppers a covered setting for browsing the stalls at the port.
FAQ
Where is Abu Dhabi Dates Market?
It is at Zayed Port in Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi.
Can you sample dates before buying?
Stallholders may offer samples, letting you taste different varieties before choosing.
Can you bargain at the market?
Yes. Bargaining is customary, so discuss the price with the seller before buying.
What can you buy besides dates?
Stalls may sell nuts, dried fruit, spices, sweets, date syrup, jams and spreads.
