Abstract Jujubes are an excellent source of sugar and nutrients, making them well-suited for fermentation. Previous research on jujubes has primarily focused on their use in fermented beverages and fruit wines, but their potential for vinegar production has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, this study produced jujube vinegar from jujube as raw material using microbial fermentation technology, and the changes in bioactive substances and volatile components during different fermentation stages were monitored. Results revealed that the primary organic acids in jujube vinegar were acetic acid, malic acid and lactic acid. The levels of phenolic compounds, such as epicatechin and ferulic acid, increased significantly by 3.5-fold and 3.2-fold, respectively, after acetic fermentation, resulting in an improvement in antioxidant activity. In addition, a total of seventy-three volatile substances were detected in jujube vinegar, with acids accounting for 72.13% of the overall content. Isoamyl alcohol, ethyl phenylacetate, benzaldehyde and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone were also the principal flavour compounds of jujube vinegar, which are the main source of its intense flavour. This study reveals the dynamic law of nutrients and flavour compounds during the fermentation process of jujube vinegar. The findings provide a theoretical reference and practical basis for the production of jujube vinegar.