What to bring back from Makkah and Madinah: dates, souvenirs, prices
A practical shopping guide for Makkah and Madinah: which dates to buy and what they cost, which souvenirs pilgrims and visitors bring home, where to shop, how to carry Zamzam water, how VAT refunds work and which customs limits apply when returning to Indonesia or Uzbekistan.
Most visitors to Makkah and Madinah come home with the same short list: dates, a prayer mat, prayer beads, perfume, clothes and sweets for the family. Prices depend a great deal on the shop and the quality, and a few rules, from a bottle of Zamzam to the customs limit, are easy to miss. This guide gathers the main options with the prices we were able to confirm, the dates of the sources and the places to shop.
ZiyaraGo is an independent information service, not a seller. Prices change with the season and the shop, and airline and customs rules change too, so treat the figures as a guide and check them before paying or packing your luggage.
A short list: what people take home
Dates from Madinah are the best-known gift: Ajwa, Sukkari, Khalas and Mabroom are sold by the box and by weight. Other common purchases include prayer mats, prayer beads, abayas and thobes, scarves, Arabian perfume and pistachio chocolate. Airlines handle a bottle of Zamzam water separately, and on larger purchases part of the tax can be reclaimed through a VAT refund.
As for places to shop, the wholesale center in Makkah is the Al-Kakiyyah market, and Madinah has several date markets and farms. For getting between the shops and your hotel, see our guide how to get around Makkah and Madinah.
Dates: varieties and prices per kilogram
For Madinah dates there is one dated price table, from the retailer House of Saud (17 April 2026). The ranges are given per kilogram in Saudi riyals and depend on size, quality and packaging.
| Variety | Price per kg (SAR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ajwa | 35-100 | Madinah's best-known date; the price depends on size and grade |
| Mabroom | 30-60 | Soft, long dates |
| Khalas | 30-70 | Soft and sweet |
| Sukkari | 25-60 | Very sweet, popular as a gift |
| Safawi | 20-40 | Darker and firmer |
| Khudri | 15-30 | The lowest price in the table |
Where to buy dates
In Madinah, House of Saud names the Central Dates Market near the Prophet's Mosque as a place to buy dates, and the city has farms and orchards that sell dates to visitors, for example the Aryaf Taibah dates farm, Karaneef Al Nakheel and the Al-Marbad farm. In Makkah, the Al-Kakiyyah market sells packaged dates as gifts, and the same district has a separate fruit and vegetable market.
Compare prices at two or three stalls before buying. Vacuum-packed dates keep longer and travel better in a suitcase, and a small trial box is a simple way to check the quality before you take a kilogram.
- Aryaf Taibah Dates Farm — To the Prophet's Mosque: 4.1 km as the crow flies
- Karaneef Al Nakheel — To the Prophet's Mosque: 14.5 km as the crow flies
- Al Marbad Farm — To the Prophet's Mosque: 3.3 km as the crow flies
- Al-Kakiyyah Fruit and Vegetable Market — To Al-Masjid al-Haram: 6.2 km as the crow flies
Other souvenirs and typical prices
The wholesale center, the Al-Kakiyyah market, is the cheapest place for gifts in bulk. According to 2023 data, an adult abaya costs from 25 to 150 SAR, a turban from 15 to 25 SAR, and a teapot with glasses from 70 to 100 SAR; in 2026 one pilgrim reported 105 SAR for three thobes, and pistachio chocolate was a popular gift that year. A minibus trip from the hotel to the center and back reportedly cost about 30 SAR.
In Madinah, shopping malls such as Al Noor Mall sell perfume, clothes and sweets at fixed prices. Opening hours differ between sources and between shops, so find out the current times at your hotel before you set out.
- Al-Kakiyyah Market (Al Kakiyyah, Kakiyah) — To Al-Masjid al-Haram: 5.2 km as the crow flies
- Al Noor Mall — To the Prophet's Mosque: 3.6 km as the crow flies
Zamzam water: how to get it home
Zamzam water is handled by the airport and the airline, and you cannot simply put it in a suitcase. According to a guide updated on 18 May 2026, the usual rule is one sealed bottle of 5 liters, bought at an official counter at the airport and checked in at registration as a separate item; the price at the point of sale in Madinah was reportedly 12.50 SAR. Airlines differ and their pages are not always consistent, so check the rule with your airline before you travel.
VAT refund for tourists
Khaleej Times reported on 7 August 2025 that since 18 April 2025 non-resident tourists over 18 can reclaim VAT through Global Blue. The conditions it gave: a minimum purchase of 500 SAR, up to three receipts per day from one shop, validation at an airport kiosk within 90 days and carrying the goods in hand luggage; cash refunds are up to 5,000 SAR per day. Food and drink are excluded, so dates and sweets are unlikely to qualify. The list of participating airports and shops changes, so ask the shop for a tax-free form and check the list of airports before counting on it.
Customs when returning home
Indonesia: regulation PMK 34/2025, in force since 6 June 2025 and summarized by the tax consultants' association IKPI, gives ordinary passengers a duty-free limit of USD 500 per person, with 10% duty on the excess. Hajj pilgrims have a higher limit of USD 2,500. Umrah is not mentioned, so go by the ordinary limit and check with Bea Cukai.
Uzbekistan: Kun.uz reported on 26 November 2025 a duty-free limit of USD 1,000 for air passengers who have spent at least three days abroad, USD 500 by rail or river and USD 300 by road transport. Limits for cash, gold and perfume differ between reports, so check the customs committee's page before packing your suitcase.
Shopping tips
Bring Saudi riyal cash in small notes; larger shops accept cards. Haggling is normal in markets and wholesale centers, and buying several items from one stall usually lowers the price. Many goods in the markets come from China or Bangladesh rather than Saudi Arabia, so ask about origin if you want local products, and buy perfume and oud from a shop you trust, as fakes are common.
Weigh your luggage before the return flight: dates, books and prayer mats are heavier than they look, and the airline's allowance applies.
How we chose
We compiled this guide from House of Saud's dated price table, reports by Indonesian and Saudi media, Khaleej Times' article on VAT refunds for tourists, a summary of the Indonesian regulation PMK 34/2025, Kun.uz for Uzbekistan and a Zamzam guide updated in May 2026, and rewrote everything in our own words. Each figure is dated by its source. We do not include figures on which sources disagree, such as customs limits on gold and cash.
Tips
- Compare prices at two or three stalls before buying dates, and take a small trial box.
- For your suitcase, buy vacuum-packed dates.
- Carry Zamzam as one sealed 5-liter bottle from the official counter, and check the rule with your airline.
- Ask the shop for a VAT refund form and keep the goods in hand luggage for validation.
- Check your country's customs limit before you pack: USD 500 for passengers to Indonesia, more for Hajj pilgrims.
Questions and answers
How much do Ajwa dates cost in Madinah?
House of Saud gave 35-100 SAR per kilogram as of 17 April 2026, depending on size and grade.
Can I take Zamzam water on a plane?
Under the usual rule reported in May 2026, you can take one sealed 5-liter bottle bought at an official airport counter and checked in at registration. Confirm this with your airline.
Can tourists reclaim VAT in Saudi Arabia?
Since 18 April 2025, non-resident tourists over 18 can reclaim VAT through Global Blue on purchases of 500 SAR or more; the refund is validated at an airport kiosk within 90 days. Food and drink are excluded.
What is the duty-free limit for passengers to Indonesia?
USD 500 per person for ordinary passengers and USD 2,500 for Hajj pilgrims under PMK 34/2025, which took effect on 6 June 2025.
Where are the cheapest souvenirs in Makkah?
The Al-Kakiyyah wholesale market, about 8 km from the Haram, sells clothes, prayer mats, prayer beads, dates and gifts more cheaply than the shops near the Haram.
Where can I buy dates in Madinah?
At the Central Dates Market near the Prophet's Mosque and at farms and orchards that sell dates to visitors, such as Aryaf Taibah.
Prepared with the help of AI and checked by the ZiyaraGo team. Editorial policy