Saudi coffee sector in Jazan sees strong growth with investment and funding support

The Jazan region is home to more than one million productive coffee trees, yielding over 650 tons of pure coffee annually, rooted in an agricultural tradition spanning more than 300 years. This growth is supported by funding and support programs that boost Saudi coffee production and its economic value, while expanding marketing and investment opportunities for local farmers.

On International Coffee Day, observed every October 1, coffee stands out as a key agricultural product tied to Jazan’s identity and cultural heritage. Farming communities in the region’s mountainous governorates have passed down coffee cultivation knowledge and care techniques through generations, preserving their traditional terraced farms.

Support and development programs

The launch of the Coffee Festival in Al-Dayer governorate in 2013 marked a significant milestone in raising awareness of the product and its agricultural legacy, as well as enhancing its marketing. In 2016, support programs for farmers expanded, including the planting and distribution of coffee seedlings, rehabilitation of agricultural terraces, and improvements in irrigation and production methods. These efforts increased the cultivated area and improved crop quality.

In 2022, this heritage gained international recognition when “knowledge and practices related to Saudi coffee cultivation” were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging the inherited agricultural skills involved in growing, harvesting, and processing coffee.

Coffee cooperative and modern investments

That same year, the Jazan Coffee Cooperative was established as the Kingdom’s first cooperative specializing in coffee cultivation, aiming to support farmers, enhance production quality and marketing, and expand partnerships and investment opportunities. More than 2,300 farmers and beneficiaries have received its services, along with 850 shareholders, and over 150 women have benefited from its programs and initiatives. The cooperative has also implemented more than 15 strategic partnerships.

In support of the sector, the Jazan branch of the Agricultural Development Fund reported that financing for Saudi coffee exceeded 60 million riyals (SAR) in 2023, as part of funding allocated to rural agricultural products.

Broad economic and cultural prospects

The significance of coffee in Jazan goes beyond economic figures; each tree is part of the region’s memory, and the terraced farms carry the expertise of generations. The harvest season reflects the deep connection between people and their land, as the region works to transform its agricultural heritage into a renewable development resource—combining ancestral knowledge with modern development tools and enhancing the quality and value of Saudi coffee in local and international markets.