Going to the Bangladeshi fruit market yesterday I saw this reddish dates on display. Not contented, I personally went to the vendor asking what they were and where did they come from. Well, they were indeed dates and came from Saudi Arabia.
I have worked in Saudi before and I haven't seen such color being sold...they're usually yellow in color. The size is smaller too compared to the red ones.
(image from aimas-farms.com)
These are still raw and not good to eat. Years ago while working in Saudi, every week with the consultant I work with, he usually have a box weekly from one of his patients. He will just get a handful then give to me for all of us nurses in our area.
Some will eat them when they're fully ripe, all brown in color. I like it half-ripe and half-raw. That way, it's not too sweet and it gives you that crunchy way of eating a real fruit like a pear.
There might not be fresh ones in some places for they are exported already sweetened and can be bought in some Asian stores around the globe or at duty-frees in Middle Eastern airports or can be anywhere like Morocco.
(image from nation.com.pk)