Milaf Cola

At the Riyadh Date Festival in November 2024, the Saudi company Thurath Al-Madina (تراث المدينة) unveiled what it proudly calls “the world’s first date-based soft drink”: Milaf Cola (ميلاف).

Milaf Cola sets itself apart by being sweetened exclusively with dates – meaning no artificial sweeteners and none of the much-maligned high fructose corn syrup. The company promotes it as a “healthier and more sustainable” soft drink. That may be a slight stretch, considering it still contains 8 grams of sugar per 100 ml – just a touch below the 10–11 grams found in most classic colas.

Surprisingly, according to those brave enough to have tried it, the cola doesn’t actually taste much like dates – which might seem like a missed marketing opportunity.

The name Milaf (ميلاف) is not a standard Arabic word. It appears to be a modern brand creation, likely inspired by the word milaf (ملف), meaning “file” or “dossier.” The added letter gives it a smoother, more stylized tone – possibly chosen to evoke a sense of uniqueness or modernity.

The company behind Milaf Cola is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the state’s wealth fund tasked with diversifying the Saudi economy away from oil and into something more future-proof.

Milaf Cola has its sights set on global reach, and by summer 2025, it can be found in places like India, Australia, and South Africa.