The present study focuses on characterization of an important salt tolerant species, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) genetic resources growing naturally at delta of Wadi El-Gemal, one of the main protectorates at Red Sea coastal area, Egypt. Five sites were selected at date palm grove dominating the delta for soil and plant sampling and field measurements. Particle size distribution, pH, EC, and organic matter were analyzed in rhizosphere soils. Chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were analyzed in both surface soil samples and dried leaves of date palm. Statistical evaluation of the obtained data showed significant variations in silt and clay content, EC, and available content of Cl-, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ between different sites. Soils of W. El-Gemal delta are strongly saline with highly significant variation between different sites (EC= 62.98 ± 31.97 dS m-1). Accumulation of certain ions in date palm leaves was highly correlated with soil ions. The high accumulation of Na+ and Cl- may serve as useful mechanism for providing osmotic solutes to enable the date palm to be the most salt tolerant fruit species. The high salinity tolerance of the date palm tree makes it a good model for saline soil reclamations. The Delta of W. El-Gemal holds an important wild relative of date palm and the authors recommend that this delta should have a special concern within the protectorate as an important hot spot for in situ conservation of date palm genetic resources.