DAMMAM, 29 October 2003 — Sales of dates increase by 200 percent during Ramadan, Okaz reported yesterday quoting traders. Nasser ibn Muhammad Al-Khathlan, an investor in the dates industry, said Saudi dates are in high demand in Arab and Islamic countries during the fasting month because of their high quality. According to traders, there was a substantial rise in sales of dates this year compared to last year. “Before Shaaban, sales were around SR30,000 but now they’ve gone up to SR90,000,” they said, adding customers seek better varieties of dates during Ramadan.