The Date Room

What The Date Room does

The Date Room Trading LLC is a UAE-based, vertically integrated premium date and artisanal gift company founded in 2018. Operations span three locations: company-owned date farms in the UNESCO World Heritage palm oases of Al Ain (producing six Emirati varieties: Khalas, Fardh, Lulu, Bumaan, Khadrawi, Razaiz); an ISO and HACCP-certified production facility in Jebel Ali Industrial, Dubai; and a flagship retail showroom on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi open daily 10am-9pm. The company employs 101-250 staff and operates the Seeds of Heritage sustainability program, which collects seeds from sold dates, cultivates them in 3D-printed biodegradable pots with water recycling, and targets 10,000 planted trees by 2026.

The product portfolio centers on premium plain dates, stuffed dates (pistachio, almond, cashew, walnut, flavored pralines), single-origin chocolate-dipped dates, traditional maamoul cookies (100% plant-based, zero added sugar, hand-pressed in wooden molds), date cakes including a 2025-launched Matcha Date Cake, and a Signature tier including the AED 420 "Rihlah" two-tiered gift box. Adjacent lines include Emirati Arabic coffee, date syrups (dibs), nuts, and Rahash. Distribution combines a UAE-domestic e-commerce site with 2-3 day delivery and free shipping over AED 300, the Abu Dhabi boutique, WhatsApp inside sales, and a dedicated corporate field-sales team. Payment processing runs on Stripe with Tabby BNPL support.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time direct sales to individual consumers (personal gifting, self-indulgence, household use) and B2B corporate clients (financial institutions, government entities, hospitality groups ordering for Eid, Ramadan, and UAE National Day) with custom branding and volume orders. Pricing is unit-based across product tiers ranging from AED 63 plain-date boxes to AED 420+ signature gift boxes; reported wholesale/retail and franchise channels are active with corporate gift budget tiers documented at AED 150-300, 300-600, and 600+. Approximately 20-30% of each harvest is rejected before packaging to maintain quality. The company has been recognized as SME Family Business 2023, Best Luxury Dates 2024, and Top 100 Gourmet Foods & Drinks 2025.

Name

The Date Room

Legal name

The Date Room Trading LLC

Website

https://thedateroom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Date Room is a UAE-based, vertically integrated producer of premium Emirati dates and artisanal gift collections, sourcing from its own Al Ain farms and selling via D2C e-commerce, an Abu Dhabi showroom, corporate gifting, and franchise channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Confectionery & Specialty Foods

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Food Gift Shops & Hampers (CRAHAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cake Shops & Custom Celebration Cakes (THAFAFAC), Halal & Middle Eastern Grocery Stores (CRAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Premium emirati dates
• Artisanal date gifts
• Corporate gifting UAE
• Stuffed dates
• Date confectionery

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: The company generates revenue primarily through direct sales of premium Emirati dates, stuffed dates, chocolate-dipped dates, maamoul, date cakes, gourmet products (coffee, syrups, nuts), gift boxes, and Ramadan collections. Products are sold directly to consumers via e-commerce and physical boutique.
2. Corporate Gifting: B2B corporate gifting services with custom branding, personalized messaging, and volume orders for occasions including Eid, Ramadan, and UAE National Day.
3. Franchise Opportunities: The company offers franchise opportunities as indicated by a dedicated franchise contact email ([email protected]).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Date Room manufactures and sells premium Emirati dates, stuffed and chocolate-dipped dates, traditional maamoul, date cakes, gift boxes, and curated gift trays. Products are grown on company-owned farms in the UNESCO-protected Al Ain oases and processed in an ISO/HACCP-certified facility in Jabel Ali, Dubai, then sold through a UAE-wide e-commerce site, an Abu Dhabi boutique showroom, corporate gifting sales, and franchise partners.

Product overview

The Date Room is a premium Emirati date and artisanal gift company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on six date varieties (Kholas, Fardh, Lulu, Bumaan, Khadrawi, and Razaiz) grown in their own Al-Ain farms. The product portfolio spans core date offerings (Plain Dates, Stuffed Dates with nuts like pistachio and almond, Chocolate-Dipped Dates with single-origin chocolate), bakery items (Maamoul traditional cookies and The Date Room Cake), gourmet products (Emirati Arabic Coffee, Date Syrups, Nuts, Rahash), and curated gift collections (Gift Boxes, Ramadan Special Boxes, Signature Collections like The "Rihlah"). Services include Corporate Gifting with custom branding, Build Your Own Box customization, and the Seeds of Heritage sustainability initiative converting date seeds into palm seedlings. The company operates on a direct farm-to-table supply chain with ISO and HACCP certified production facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kholas Dates Premium semi-dry Emirati date variety with butter-caramel flavor, golden-brown skin, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, grown in Al Ain UNESCO-protected oasis farms. Sold as a plain date product for individual consumers and corporate gifting.
• Fardh Dates Premium dry-to-semi-dry Emirati date variety with robust structure, dark maroon-red skin, and mild earthy sweetness; rich in vitamins, calcium, iron, and phosphorus; fat-free and cholesterol-free.
• Lulu Dates Mid-season Emirati date variety named "pearl" in Arabic, with dark gem appearance, juicy texture, rounded form, and balanced sweetness between Khalas and Fard.
• Bumaan Dates Mild and natural Emirati date variety with gentle sweetness, containing natural glucose, sucrose, and fructose; suitable as a healthy snack between meals.
• Khadrawi Dates Sweet and nutty Emirati date with stout oval shape and brown-colored skin; nutrient-rich profile, traditionally served alongside gahwa.
• Razaiz Dates Balanced and unique medium-sized Emirati date variety rarely seen outside the Gulf, with attractive skin and balanced flavor.
• Stuffed Dates Premium Emirati dates filled with pistachio, almond, cashew, walnut, pistachio praline, hazelnut paste, and other flavored fillings; available as Mixed Stuffed Dates and single-flavor Fardh Stuffed with Pistachio (AED 63 per 500g box).
• Chocolate Dipped Dates Premium Emirati dates enrobed in single-origin chocolate, including combinations such as Khalas with pistachio praline filling and dark chocolate shell, and Fardh with Crunchy Lotus Cream.
• Maamoul Traditional Emirati date-filled shortbread cookie made with vegetable ghee and spiced semolina dough; sweetened only with Emirati dates, 100% plant-based with zero added sugar, hand-pressed in traditional wooden molds (AED 99.75).
• The Date Room Cake Moist date cake made with generous incorporation of premium Emirati dates; net weight 300g (two pieces), priced at AED 73.50.
• Matcha Date Cake Fusion date cake combining Japanese matcha with Emirati Kholas dates, served with Date Dibs sauce; net weight 200g (two pieces), AED 105.00.
• Gift Boxes (Al Yered Collection and standard range) Handcrafted gift collections including the Al Yered Gift Box Collection and Ramadan Night Fall Collection, designed for personal and corporate gifting (AED 63.00–AED 178.50).
• The "Rihlah" Gift Box Premium two-tiered signature gift box featuring four artisanal date creations inspired by the Emirati heritage journey between coastal and desert landscapes, with specific flavor profiles including clove-infused white chocolate and saffron-cardamom camel milk coating; priced at AED 420.00.
• Ramadan Special Boxes Curated seasonal gift boxes designed for Ramadan gifting and iftar sharing, including the Al Danah collection (turquoise and cream wave design inspired by pearl diving heritage) and Al Noor collection (ivory and gold ornate design); available in Large and Medium editions with premium stuffed and plain dates.
• Original Emirati Coffee Pack Hand-roasted 100% Arabica Emirati Arabic coffee blend with cardamom notes; two 250-gram pouches totaling 500g, priced at AED 115.50.
• Syrups and Oils Date syrup (dibs) and related oils for culinary use; versatile natural sweetener for UAE cooking applications and pairing with the date range.
• Nuts Premium nuts including caramelised pecans and other selections for pairing with dates and use in stuffed date preparations.
• Rahash Traditional Emirati halva confection marketed as a gourmet offering from The Date Room.
• Trays and Hampers Generous platters and arrangements offering larger-format date presentations for gatherings, events, and group gifting.
• Corporate Gifting Service B2B corporate gifting service offering custom branding, personalized messaging, flexible lead times, and volume orders for hospitality groups, financial institutions, government entities, and corporate clients for Eid, Ramadan, UAE National Day, client appreciation, and employee gifting.
• Build Your Own Box Customization service allowing customers to select their own combination of stuffed date flavors in a single personalized gift box, enabling tailored gifting for personal and corporate buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-30% of harvest rejected before packaging to ensure top-tier quality
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner for secure credit card transactions. Processes Visa and MasterCard payments in AED currency. Card details are never stored on company servers.
• TabbycoreTechnology or IntegrationBuy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payment partner enabling interest-free installments (Pay in 4) for customers. Supports the pricing model of making premium products more accessible.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Harrods Food Halls: Iconic UK luxury retailer with curated gourmet food hampers and international shipping. Comparable on premium gift hamper category, luxury food curation, and global luxury positioning that The Date Room's signature boxes emulate.
• Godiva Chocolatier: Global premium chocolate gifting brand with extensive corporate gifting programs and boutique retail in the UAE. Comparable on premium gifting occasions, corporate B2B channel, luxury packaging, and seasonal collections (Ramadan/Eid).
• Whittard of Chelsea: Premium tea, coffee, and hot chocolate brand with strong gift/hampers category. Comparable on gourmet pantry SKU extension (The Date Room's coffee/syrups), premium gifting presentation, and D2C-led retail strategy.

Emerging players

• Yadawee / Yadawee Dates: Emerging UAE/Saudi online-first date brand targeting younger consumers with modern packaging and subscription options. Comparable on UAE D2C e-commerce focus, premium stuffed dates, and modern digital marketing in the dates category.
• NKD (Naturally Kind Dates): UAE-based date brand focused on healthier, low-sugar stuffed date formats. Comparable on UAE D2C date category, stuffed date SKUs, and modern e-commerce positioning, though at a lower price tier.

Direct peers

• Al Barakah Dates: UAE-based premium date producer and wholesaler offering plain and stuffed date varieties. Closely comparable on date sourcing/processing and UAE retail/wholesale channels, though with less premium gifting focus than The Date Room.
• Bateel: Global premium date brand and gourmet café chain headquartered in Saudi Arabia with strong UAE presence. Most directly comparable peer—shares premium date positioning, gift box collections, corporate gifting programs, café/showroom retail, and vertically integrated farm-to-table operations.
• Patchi: Lebanese-origin luxury chocolate and confectionery brand with strong GCC footprint and dedicated corporate gifting division. Comparable on premium gifting positioning, B2B custom branding, mall boutique distribution, and Middle Eastern cultural gifting calendar (Eid, Ramadan).
• Saudi Dates Company (Tafag Dates): Large Saudi Arabian premium date brand with extensive variety portfolio and international export reach. Comparable on premium date cultivation, stuffed date products, gift packaging, and MENA-region gifting distribution.

Regional players

• Fadel Sweets & Dates: Premium date and confectionery brand with strong Gulf presence offering stuffed dates, maamoul, and gift boxes. Comparable on Emirati/Gulf product mix, gifting collections, and traditional confectionery category overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thedateroom.ae
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thedateroom

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Date Room