Watermelon: Egypt's Refreshing Delight

Updated 5/17/2025 9:00:00 AM

As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise, Egyptians turn to a favorite seasonal treat to beat the heat: watermelon. This juicy fruit has deep historical roots in Egypt, it was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and even placed in tombs to accompany the deceased on their journey to the afterlife.

In this factsheet, we take a refreshing dive into the story of watermelon in Egypt, exploring its cultivation, harvesting, and export potential. So, grab a slice and enjoy the read!

Watermelon is cultivated throughout the year in Egypt’s warm areas. However, the best time for planting watermelon is between mid-December to January.
The harvest season for the thirst-quenching fruit starts in May. Egypt produces different varieties of watermelon, including Baladi, Tendral, and Sugar Baby.
watermelons are cultivated across 49,482 feddans in Egypt, representing 3% of the country’s total cropped area. These lands produced around 7 million tons of watermelons in the 2022/23 marketing year.
In 2023, Egypt ranked 16 ^th among the world’s top watermelon producers, with a share of 1% of the global production. On a regional level, Egypt was the 4^th largest producer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Beheira governorate, including Nobaria city, is responsible for 48% of Egypt’s production, with 334,819 tons. Dakahlia and Matrouh came in 2^nd and 3^rd places, with 17.8%, and 8.5%, respectively.
In 2024, Egypt exported 7,318 tons of watermelons. The country saw a notable fall of a 53% year-on-year (YoY) in watermelon exports between 2023 and 2024, recording $4 million in 2024. The crop made up 0.23% of Egypt’s fruit exports.
In 2024, Egypt acquired 0.2% of the world’s watermelon market, ranking the 32^nd supplier in the world and 4th in the MENA region.
Egypt exported its watermelons to 29 markets in 2024. Saudi Arabia topped the list, importing $1.83 million worth, 40% of Egypt’s total watermelon exports. Kuwait and Mauritius followed with $1 million and $0.3 million, accounting for 20% and 7% of Egypt’s watermelon exports, respectively.