How sustainable water use is helping Saudi Arabia's rose farms flourish into a global industry
JEDDAH: Pink roses grown in Saudi Arabia are loved throughout the Arabian Peninsula for their expert cultivation, vivid color, alluring fragrance and the many luxury products derived from their petals, which constitute a multi-million dollar industry.
Two kinds of pink rose are grown in the Kingdom – the Madinah rose, which is a light pinkish red and grows all year round, thriving in hot and cold climates, and the Taif rose, also known as the Jory or Damascus rose, which grows only in the spring.
Taif produces more than 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts between 45 and 60 days. Rose picking season usually begins in late March or early April.
Covering an area of 270 hectares, 910 rose farms nurture about 1.14 million bushes in areas such as Al-Hada, Al-Shifa, Wadi Muharram, Al-Wahat and Al-Wahit, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Products derived from these flowers enjoy widespread popularity, with a domestic market value of SR 64 million (US$17 million).
Considered a hallmark of the region's natural beauty, Taif roses are known for their exquisite, sweet fragrance, vibrant shades of pink and delicate petals. Grown at high altitudes, these roses thrive in the region's cool temperatures and fertile soil.
Every spring, roses bloom in Taif, turning pockets of the Kingdom's vast desert landscape into fragrant pink patches. (AFP photo)
More than 60 farms and the families who run them participate in the region's annual Rose Festival, usually held in April and May, where they display their products over five days of festivities.
These fragrant crops have elevated the mountainous governorate into a global rose capital, earning a place in the 2022 Guinness World Records for the largest basket of roses, containing 84,450 flowers.
To grow the industry, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched several projects, including the rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, the application of rainwater harvesting technologies and the Sustainable Development of Rural Agriculture Program.
A Saudi woman takes a photo of a rose orchard at Bin Salman Farm in Taif on March 13, 2021. (AFP photo)
The Ministry also supports specialized agricultural cooperatives, including the recently established Association of Roses and Aromatic Plants. This support allows them to invest in ministry land, produce aromatic oils and benefit from the Agricultural Development Fund.
“The ministry is working on several initiatives and plans to achieve global leadership in the Taif rose industries and increase its production to 2 billion roses by 2026,” said Saleh Bindakhil, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, for Arab News.
YOUKNOW?
• Taif produces over 550 million flowers each harvest season, which lasts 45-60 days.
• With an area of 270 hectares, 910 farms in the west of the Kingdom feed 1.14 million bushes.
• Products derived from rose oil have a domestic market value of SR 64 million (USD 17 million).
A group of horticulturists from the Agricultural Extension Department was recently sent to Bulgaria, the Philippines and Thailand to learn about the latest technology in rose oil production and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Farmers receive expert guidance on best farming practices, with dedicated pest control teams responding promptly to pesticide spray requests to protect crops from potential threats.
A tourist takes a picture of Taif roses at Bin Salman Farm in Taif city on March 13, 2021. (AFP)
The ministry is also leading the construction of essential water infrastructure, including reservoirs and barriers, while facilitating the establishment of irrigation networks to boost agricultural activities.
Emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices, the ministry encourages small-scale rose farmers to adopt and implement the best agricultural methods, providing them with valuable information on the use of advanced technologies and optimal rose production techniques, including the extraction of essential oils as part of a chain value. development approach.
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“Taif governorate has long been recognized as the ideal and original environment for Taif rose bushes,” said Bindakhil.
“Generations have cared for these roses, passing on the tradition of harvesting, distilling and extracting rose oil and water. They enjoyed the fragrant history of these roses in the mild and cool climate and mountainous nature at the top of the famous Jabal Ghazwan.”
One use of rose water extracted from Taif roses is for washing the Kaaba in Makkah each year – a traditional practice supported by the Saudi government.
The distillation process, which takes between nine and 12 hours, is carried out using tightly sealed copper vessels. (AFP photo)
The kingdom has many factories and workshops dedicated to extracting and manufacturing more than 80 products from rose derivatives, producing various aromatic products and body care items.
The rose industry plays a significant role in regional development and the local economy, providing many jobs and marketing opportunities and encouraging more women to enter the workforce.
To extract the rose oil, bags containing thousands of rose petals are poured into 90-liter copper vessels, which are then hermetically sealed for a distillation process that takes 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 then poured into 12 milliliter vials, the price of which starts at $400, depending on the season.
Al-Kamal, established in 1831, is the oldest factory of rose-derived cosmetics and cleaning products in the Kingdom. Located in Al-Hada in Medina, it is managed by Khalid Al-Kamal, whose family has worked at the firm for generations.
“It is a career passed down from father to son – from one generation to another – and I am very proud to tell you that I am the seventh generation to inherit this legacy,” Al-Kamal told Arab News in a 2021 interview .
A view of the entrance to the Al-Kamal Rose Factory in Taif. (Shutterstock)
“Working in the field of rose cultivation requires a lot of delicacy, as the quality of roses is affected by soil and weather, as well as the cultivation method. I learned from my ancestors, and now my three sons run the factory with a few workers.”
With many new government investments in the pipeline promoting the sustainable use of water resources, Saudi Arabia's rose industry will undoubtedly continue to flourish in the years to come.
