Ajwa and Mariami AA sit at the same end of the price spectrum, but they're not interchangeable, and buyers comparing the two usually pick wrong if they're going by name recognition alone rather than what each variety actually is.
Ajwa comes only from Madinah — it's a single cultivar with no real substitute if you specifically want that origin. The texture is dense and almost fudge-like, with a deep, slightly smoky sweetness and a small, easily-removed seed. It's usually sold in smaller packs (250g–500g) because it's priced per piece more than per kilo, and most buyers use it a few dates at a time rather than by the handful.
Mariami AA is grown in Iran and is a larger, plumper date with a softer bite and a more straightforward caramel sweetness — less complex than Ajwa, but more date per ringgit. It holds up better in bulk use: baking, stuffing, or serving a full platter at an event, where Ajwa's cost per piece would add up fast for the same volume.
Kurma AJwa tends to get bought for gifting or personal daily use in small quantities — its price and Madinah origin carry weight as a specific, intentional choice. Mariami AA gets bought for volume: a hantaran tray, a corporate hamper filled out with quantity, or home cooking where you want the sweetness of dates without spending Ajwa money to get it.
Storage is similar for both — sealed, room temperature, away from direct heat, both keeping 6–12 months as tamr-stage dried fruit. Neither variety treats or prevents any illness; the difference between them is origin, texture, and price, not health benefit. If you want the specific Madinah cultivar, Kurma Malaysia sourcing that guarantees Ajwa is worth paying for; if you just want good dates for regular use or bulk serving, Mariami AA does the job for less. Our Mariami AA cooking guide has ideas for using it beyond snacking, and our Ajwa sourcing page covers grade and pricing if Madinah origin is what you're after.