The United Arab Emirates has given great importance to the agricultural sector in general and to the date palm tree in particular, given its importance in the lives of desert dwellers, as it is the main source of food, shelter, tools for work and life, and part of the cultural and national identity. The UAE has also achieved a prestigious global position in this field for its constructive contribution to advancing this sector, preserving resources, and supporting food security, thanks to the vision of the award’s sponsor, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, through initiatives and events aimed at achieving sustainable development in accordance with the best international practices.
In celebration of the distinguished relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and based on the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, and the follow-up of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the General Secretariat of the Award is working, within its strategic objectives, to develop the date palm sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan by launching a number of programs and projects to develop and advance this sector. The Jordanian International Dates Festival in Amman was the first success story of the Award on the land of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Within this promising vision, the award initiative comes to organize the first international festival of Jordanian dates under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and in cooperation with its strategic partners in the Ministry of Agriculture in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (MOA), the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, and the Jordan Dates Association (JODA) , the third international festival of Jordanian dates in Amman during the period 21-23 November 2021, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) , the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) , the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (ARENINA), the International Date Palm Network (DPGN), and the Friends of the Palm Society in the Emirates (DPFS) . This is within the framework of cooperation between the two brotherly countries for this purpose.
This honor comes from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, to emphasize the strong relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and to highlight the pioneering role of the UAE in supporting the agricultural sector, especially in the field of date palms. It also emphasizes the status of the award and its constructive role in developing and advancing the palm sector at the Arab and international levels.
Prof. Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid
Secretary-General Of The Khalifa International Award For Date Palm And Agricultural Innovation
