This study was carried to discus the effect of mannitol on direct somatic embryogenesis of Phoenix dactylifere L. cvs. Malakaby and Zaghlool, using shoot tip, sub-shoot tip and leaf primordia used as a plant material. The explants were cultured on 3/4 MS basal medium supplemented various concentrations of mannitol at (0.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 g/l) during culture periods (60, 90 and 120 day). The addition of mannitol to culture medium significantly suppressed callus formation compared to the control medium (Mannitol free medium). The treatment with high concentrations of mannitol was effective for somatic embryogenesis directly. Shoot tip and sub-shoot tip explants gave the highest percentage of direct somatic embryogenesis no callus formation was shown, but on the other hand, leaf primordial explants failed to form direct somatic embryos. Histologically, somatic embryos derived from common epidermal cells and study showed the, formation of embryogenic cell clumps. Finally it appears that application of mannitol induced direct formation of somatic embryos from epidermal cell without the formation of visible calli as osmatic stress.