
Saudi Arabia's Luxury Brand Bateel Has a Plan to Take Dates Global
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Date chocolates, date coffee, date (flower) tea, date olives, date vinegar, date syrup and most of all dates as themselves — seven different kinds of them.
That's what Saudi luxury date brand Bateel is planning to bring to New York in the coming year as it drives a worldwide expansion with a plan to triple its business by 2029 from 180 outlets in 25 countries to around 500 outlets and to take it from its Middle Eastern origins to make it a global name.
Underpinning everything are the dates, which have been described as a superfood for their richness in beneficial ingredients such as fibre and antioxidants as well as for releasing sugars into the blood more slowly than sugary sweets.
"Today we are in three continents. And going forward, we are planning to be in five continents," Nurtac Afridi, chief executive of Bateel International, told Newsweek over tea — and dates — at one of its cafés in Dubai.
Nurtac Afridi, CEO of Bateel International, at a Bateel outlet in Dubai on June 23, 2025
Nurtac Afridi, CEO of Bateel International, at a Bateel outlet in Dubai on June 23, 2025
Matthew Tostevin
"In the date world, Bateel has the pioneering position among any business, the best standard of dates, and that's related to our attention to detail, the different farming practices and making sure that each date is treated like a jewel," she said.
Bateel's origins are in Saudi Arabia, where its organic farms are home to the palm plantations where it grows its dates — over 5,000 tonnes a year.
In the Middle East, dates have had a cultural significance for thousands of years and they are often offered to guests with coffee. They are traditionally the first food to be eaten when breaking the Ramadan fast during the Muslim holy month.
They have increasingly been taken up by some of the health conscious in the rest of the world, either eating them as they are or incorporating them in recipes — something that has become very visible on TikTok videos.
Healthier Snack Option
A 2022 study found different date varieties had glycemic indexes — a measure of how quickly they release sugar into the blood — of well below 50 for some types, although others topped 70. For comparison, pure glucose has an index of 100 and white bread around 90. In moderation, they can be a sweet snack alternative for some diabetics.
"It is a healthier option for gifting and a healthier option for yourself too, for nutrition, snacking and indulgence," Afridi said.
Bateel pioneered presenting dates in the same way as fine chocolates, including in designer boxes, rather than in the sacks where they might be piled in the souks. The company started in Saudi Arabia in the 1930s, but only launched its first boutiques in the 1990s and opened Café Bateel in Dubai in 2007.
Bateel cafe at a shopping mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 23, 2025
Bateel cafe at a shopping mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 23, 2025
Titas Basu
Afridi, a former CEO of chocolate company Godiva, was also quick to leap on the viral Dubai Chocolate trend, which has raised the region's profile for sweet things. Bateel makes its own Dubai chocolates with a pistachio cream and kunafa filling.
"It has grown exponentially since we launched, and we had to increase our capacity for the white chocolate several times, and now our team is working in three shifts in our factory to cope up with the demand," she said.
And of course there is a date option too — with the dates having the same kunafa filling.
Bateel prides itself on constantly coming up with innovative new ways to turn dates into gourmet foods. Young dates are pickled and eaten like olives and it's the date seeds that are turned into a decaffeinated drink for "date coffee".
Not everything has dates in it in the cafes that are competing with other high-end brands, however. There are lots of other food options, although there will be plenty of dates on the menu too.
The plan for New York is to open by 2026 at the latest with both a café and a retail store. While Bateel will be dipping its toe in the New York market, a bigger part of the expansion will be in Asia, where it already has outlets in South Korea and Singapore. Next up are Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Europe, it plans to expand from several southern European countries as well as in Britain and France.
Among Bateel's shareholders is French luxury brand conglomerate LVMH, whose brands include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Moët & Chandon and Tiffany & Co. Bateel is a private company and reliant on its own funding resources for its expansion, but it could consider selling shares at some point if the conditions were right, Afridi said.
For now, her goal is to keep expanding Bateel and position it as a luxury lifestyle brand.
"What we focus on is to keep ourselves developing with innovation, not losing our attention to detail, not compromising the quality," she said. "The whole lifestyle experience is luxury in wellness, luxury in health, luxury in taking care of yourself, luxury of having high quality products."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Families Going Into Debt for Back-to-School Supplies Jumps by Double Digits
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Forty-four percent of parents plan to incur debt to cover school supplies—a 10-percentage-point increase from 2024—a new survey by Intuit Credit Karma found. Parents cited concerns over new tariffs as major sources of financial strain ahead of the new academic year, marking a double-digit increase in households going into debt compared to 2024. Why It Matters Back-to-school shopping is traditionally a significant annual expense, but this year's costs have become more burdensome for U.S. parents. The rise comes amid heightened inflation and looming tariff increases, which have contributed to sharp price hikes for school essentials and prompted families to alter spending habits and cut back on necessities. The trend reflects deeper economic challenges as families grapple with higher living costs, stagnant wages and policy changes. It also signals that inflation and tariff policies can have a direct impact on American households, especially those with children in school. Teacher Liza Gleason shops for back-to-school supplies at a Target store on August 13, 2008, in Daly City, California. Teacher Liza Gleason shops for back-to-school supplies at a Target store on August 13, 2008, in Daly City, To Know This year, 39 percent of Intuit Credit Karma's surveyed parents with school-age children said they cannot afford back-to-school shopping—an increase from 31 percent the previous year. Other surveys confirm the cost pressure, with one Bankrate report noting that about 20 percent of parents feel budget strain from school shopping. Key school supplies, including backpacks, cost significantly more this year, with parents attributing price increases to inflation and President Donald Trump's new tariffs. "Tariffs on imports have driven up the cost of back-to-school essentials like book bags, clothes and supplies," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "While apparel prices are down slightly—about 0.5 percent over the past 12 months—that's being completely offset by rising prices in other categories." While the full impact of the tariffs has not yet been felt, concerns remain that prices could rise further after the August 1 deadline, when tariffs as high as 50 percent will hit several countries. Retail industry experts confirmed that families are responding by shopping earlier than in previous years, seeking discounts and alternative brands to manage costs. To manage back-to-school expenses, parents reported employing various savings strategies in the Intuit Credit Karma survey: 73 percent are comparison shopping, 69 percent are buying from discount stores, 44 percent are relying on buy now, pay later services, and 41 percent are choosing hand-me-downs. More than half of parents (54 percent) are sacrificing necessities such as groceries to ensure their children have needed school supplies. Additionally, 61 percent are using back-to-school sales to purchase holiday gifts simultaneously. More than half of parents, particularly those with multiple children, said back-to-school shopping is a major source of anxiety. High living costs prompt parents not only to take on debt but also to forgo after-school activities, with 45 percent unable to afford extracurricular programs this year, forcing some to consider cutting work hours or leaving jobs. What People Are Saying Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "It's incredibly concerning. Credit card debt in general has seen fresh highs in the years following the pandemic, as inflationary pressures and stagnant wage growth have caused many Americans to look to consumer debt to fill the gaps. "Typically, for back-to-school season, this isn't as much of a problem, as retail runs aggressive sales and some states offer tax-free shopping on back-to-school items to help parents prepare their children for the year ahead. The fact that there's a share rise in debt usage speaks to just how financially fragile many consumers are at the moment." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "This rise in the cost of goods hasn't been good for the average family. When you can't walk out of a grocery store without a receipt showing three digits before the decimal, that's a real issue. Sure, we're seeing some disinflation in categories like meat and other staples, but prices aren't coming down." Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Inflation has hit American families hard, and back-to-school shopping is only getting more expensive. Electronics like powerful calculators and handhelds, items that were once luxuries, are now required technology. But we also have a spending problem. Parents do not want their children to be the ones without, so they succumb to fad purchases on top of the necessities." What Happens Next Consumers are bracing for a potential price hike if Trump's paused tariffs take full effect on August 1. "My advice to parents struggling with how to keep up with demanding school lists and social media fads is to start with the necessities, then move to the fad purchases one at a time," Powers said. "Does your kid need yet another water bottle, backpack, zipper pull and full wardrobe all at once? No. Buy slowly as your budget allows." Retail analysts anticipate additional increases in school supply costs should tariffs proceed, intensifying the strain on families. "Long term, this is going to continue ripping through lower- and middle-income households," Thompson said, "and by the time upper-middle and higher-income families start to really feel it, it may already be too late."

Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
The world's richest people are pouring money into Africa's luxury resorts
A private island off Tanzania's coast, where guests pay around $50,000 per night for exclusive use of a villa, catamaran, and helicopter transfers inside a protected marine reserve, is emerging as the latest marker of Africa's fast-growing luxury hospitality market. According to a Bloomberg report, the resort is run by Dubai's Jumeirah Group LLC, part of the emirate's royal business empire, and reflects a broader surge of global investor interest in African tourism. From vineyard retreats to elite safaris and gorilla treks, billionaires, tech moguls, and Middle Eastern investors are turning their attention and capital toward Africa, now seen as one of the last untapped frontiers of luxury travel. Jumeirah has teamed up with the Swedish founders of Thanda Group to offer a private island escape off Tanzania and a Big Five safari experience in South Africa. Kasada Capital Management, backed by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, is expanding its footprint, eyeing deals in Morocco and adding to its 19-hotel portfolio across seven African nations. Meanwhile, Albwardy Investment, the firm behind Dubai's Desert Palm Polo Estate, is pushing ahead with developments in Zanzibar and Seychelles. It's a marked shift. Where African hospitality was once largely shaped by state-led initiatives, it's now being redefined by private capital, keen to meet a growing appetite for luxury experiences in untamed destinations. Billionaires are betting big Billionaires are increasingly drawn to Africa. For many, the cost of entry, from land acquisition to development, is significantly lower than in more established markets. Meanwhile, tourism numbers are soaring. In 2024, Africa surpassed pre-pandemic levels of international arrivals, welcoming 74 million visitors, according to UN Tourism. A 2024 Deloitte report on next-generation travellers forecasts that the Middle East and Africa will lead global growth in inbound tourism through 2040. Africa alone is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.5% from 2019 to 2040, showing the region's long-term appeal. Virgin Limited Edition, the luxury hospitality brand founded by Richard Branson, has made Africa central to its strategy; over half its properties are on the continent, with more investments on the horizon. Others are following suit. Koos Bekker, the billionaire behind Naspers Ltd., recently opened his second ultra-luxury lodge in South Africa. United Africa Group, led by entrepreneur Haddis Tilahun, is in talks to acquire five high-end properties, while Club Med, backed by Chinese tycoon Guo Guangchang's Fosun, is preparing to launch a bush-and-beach resort in South Africa by next July.

Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Business Insider
The world's richest are pouring money into Africa's luxury resorts
Billionaires are increasingly drawn to Africa. For many, the cost of entry, from land acquisition to development, is significantly lower than in more established markets. Notable investments in African luxury travel include Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition and expansions by Kasada Capital Management. Global investors, including billionaires and Middle Eastern firms, are increasingly interested in African tourism due to untapped potential and cost efficiencies. The Jumeirah Group teams up with Thanda Group to develop high-end African destinations, such as private islands and safaris. A private island off Tanzania's coast, where guests pay around $50,000 per night for exclusive use of a villa, catamaran, and helicopter transfers inside a protected marine reserve, is emerging as the latest marker of Africa's fast-growing luxury hospitality market. According to a Bloomberg report, the resort is run by Dubai's Jumeirah Group LLC, part of the emirate's royal business empire, and reflects a broader surge of global investor interest in African tourism. From vineyard retreats to elite safaris and gorilla treks, billionaires, tech moguls, and Middle Eastern investors are turning their attention and capital toward Africa, now seen as one of the last untapped frontiers of luxury travel. Jumeirah has teamed up with the Swedish founders of Thanda Group to offer a private island escape off Tanzania and a Big Five safari experience in South Africa. Kasada Capital Management, backed by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, is expanding its footprint, eyeing deals in Morocco and adding to its 19-hotel portfolio across seven African nations. Meanwhile, Albwardy Investment, the firm behind Dubai's Desert Palm Polo Estate, is pushing ahead with developments in Zanzibar and Seychelles. It's a marked shift. Where African hospitality was once largely shaped by state-led initiatives, it's now being redefined by private capital, keen to meet a growing appetite for luxury experiences in untamed destinations. Billionaires are betting big Billionaires are increasingly drawn to Africa. For many, the cost of entry, from land acquisition to development, is significantly lower than in more established markets. Meanwhile, tourism numbers are soaring. In 2024, Africa surpassed pre-pandemic levels of international arrivals, welcoming 74 million visitors, according to UN Tourism. A 2024 Deloitte report on next-generation travellers forecasts that the Middle East and Africa will lead global growth in inbound tourism through 2040. Africa alone is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.5% from 2019 to 2040, showing the region's long-term appeal. Virgin Limited Edition, the luxury hospitality brand founded by Richard Branson, has made Africa central to its strategy; over half its properties are on the continent, with more investments on the horizon. Others are following suit. Koos Bekker, the billionaire behind Naspers Ltd., recently opened his second ultra-luxury lodge in South Africa.