How sustainable water use is helping Saudi rose farms grow into a global industry
JEDDAH: Saudi-grown pink roses are prized throughout the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, vibrant colors, captivating fragrance and the many luxury products made from their petals, making them a multi-million dollar industry.
Two types of pink roses are grown in the kingdom. The Madina rose is a light pink color and grows all year round, and thrives in warm and cool climates. The Taif rose, also known as the Jory or Damascus rose, grows only in spring.
The type produces more than 550 million flowers per harvest season, which lasts between 45 and 60 days. The rose picking season usually begins in late March or early April.
According to Saudi Press Agency, 910 rose farms are spread across 270 hectares in areas including Al-Hada, Al-Shifa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat and Al-Wahit, growing about 1.14 million rose plants.
Products derived from these flowers are widely popular, with a domestic market value of 64 million riyals (17 million dollars).
Considered a hallmark of the region's natural beauty, the Taif rose is known for its exquisite, sweet fragrance, vivid pink hue, and delicate petals. Grown at high altitudes, this rose thrives in the region's cool temperatures and fertile soil.
Every spring, roses bloom in Taif, turning small swathes of the kingdom's vast desert landscape into fragrant patches of pink. (AFP Photo)
More than 60 farms and the families that run them participate in the region's annual rose festival, usually held in April and May, showcasing their produce during the five-day event.
This fragrant crop has made the mountainous region the world's capital of roses, and in 2022 it entered the Guinness World Records for the largest rose basket containing 84,450 roses.
To grow the industry, the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Agriculture has launched several projects, including restoration of agricultural land, application of rainwater harvesting technologies and sustainable rural agricultural development programs.
A Saudi woman takes pictures of a rose orchard at the Bin Salman farm in Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP Photo)
The ministry also supports specialized agricultural cooperatives, including the recently established Rose and Aromatic Plants Association, which allows them to invest in ministry land, produce aromatic oils and benefit from agricultural development funds.
“The ministry is pursuing several initiatives and plans to secure global leadership in the Taif rose industry and increase production to two billion roses by 2026,” Saleh Bin Dakhil, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Water Resources and Agriculture, told Arab News.
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• The type produces over 550 million flowers per harvest season, which lasts 45 to 60 days.
• 1.14 million shrubs grow on 910 farms in the western part of the kingdom, covering an area of 270 hectares.
• The domestic market value of products derived from rose oil is SR64 million (USD 17 million).
A group of horticulturalists from the Agricultural Guidance Department were recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest technologies and environmentally friendly farming practices in rose oil production.
Farmers receive expert guidance on best agricultural practices, and a dedicated pest management team responds quickly to pesticide spraying requests to protect crops from potential threats.
A tourist takes a photo with a Taif rose at the Bin Salman Farm in Taif city on March 13, 2021. (AFP)
The ministry also spearheads the construction of essential water infrastructure, including tanks and dams, and facilitates the creation of irrigation networks to facilitate agricultural activities.
Emphasising the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages smallholder rose farmers to adopt and implement best agricultural practices and provides valuable insights into the use of advanced technologies and optimal rose production techniques as part of its value chain development approach.
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“Taif Province has long been recognized as an ideal and native environment for the Taif rose bush,” said Vindaqil.
“Generations have cared for these roses, passing on the traditions of harvesting, distilling and extracting rose oil and water. They have enjoyed the fragrant history of these roses in the mild, cool climate and mountainous nature of the famous Jabal Ghazwan peak.”
Rose water extracted from the Taif rose is used to wash the Kaaba in Mecca every year, a traditional practice maintained by the Saudi government.
The distillation process, which takes between nine and 12 hours, is carried out using sealed copper pots. (AFP Photo)
The Rose Kingdom is home to many factories and workshops that extract and manufacture more than 80 products from rose derivatives, producing a wide range of aromatherapy and body care products.
The rose industry plays a vital role in regional development and local economies, providing numerous jobs and marketing opportunities and encouraging more women to enter the workforce.
To extract rose oil, bags containing thousands of rose petals are poured into a 90-liter copper pot, the pot is tightly sealed, and the oil is distilled for nine to 12 hours.
It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is then poured into 12-milliliter vials. (AFP Photo)
It takes 45,000 roses to produce the oil extract, which is poured into 12-milliliter vials. Prices vary depending on the season, but start at $400.
Founded in 1831, Al Kamal is the oldest factory in the kingdom producing rose cosmetics and cleaning products. Located in Al Hada, Madinah, the factory is managed by Khalid Al Kamal, who has worked for the company for generations.
“It is a legacy that has been passed down from father to son, from one generation to another. I am very proud to be the seventh generation to carry on this legacy,” Al-Kamal told Arab News in 2021.
Entrance to the Alkamal Rose Factory in Taif. (Shutterstock)
“Working in the rose industry requires a lot of delicacy, because the quality of the roses is affected by the soil, weather and cultivation methods. I learned from my ancestors, and now my three sons manage the factory with several workers.”
With the Saudi government making significant new investments in pipelines that promote sustainable use of water resources, the rose industry in Saudi Arabia is expected to continue to flourish in the future.
