International, Technology, UAE

Web Desk

Under the patronage of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and with the support of The Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates

Opening of the Fourth International Mauritanian Date Festival 2025

Organized by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, in cooperation with the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Ould Bebata: The festival represents a strategic pillar for food sovereignty and a fruitful partnership with the UAE.
Al-Muhairi: The festival strengthens fraternal ties and confirms the UAE’s commitment to agricultural development in Mauritania.
Plus: 1,000 seedlings of the “Majhool” variety to support palm farmers, with the participation of 9 countries across 62 pavilions.

Mauritania(News Desk)::Under the patronage of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and with the support of the Presidency of the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency Professor Oumam Ould Bebbate, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of Mauritania, witnessed the opening of the Fourth International Mauritanian Date Festival on Friday, July 25, 2025, in the city of Kiffa, capital of the Assaba region, in the presence of Her Excellency Ms. Zeinab Ahmednah, Minister of Trade and Tourism, His Excellency Mr. Hussein Madou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament, His Excellency Professor Hamad Ghanem Hamad Al-Muhairi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates in Nouakchott, His Excellency Professor Dr. Abdel Wahab Al-Bukhari Zaid, Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation – the Presidency, Mr. Ahmedou Addahi Akhtirah, Wali of the Assaba region, Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Habib, President of the Assaba region, Mr. Jamal Kaboud, Mayor of the city of Kiffa, and a number of members of the diplomatic corps in Mauritania, and a large crowd of experts, researchers, specialists and date producers. This festival, which It is organized by the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in cooperation with the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, and in coordination with a number of regional and international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO). ), International Center for Research in the Areas Dry ( ICARDA International Center for Biosaline Agriculture ( ICBA ) ), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development ( AOAD) ), the Arab Center for Agricultural Research in Arid Areas and Dry Lands ( ACSAD) ), the Association of Agricultural Research Centers in the Middle East and North Africa ( AARINENA) International Network for the Development of Date Palm and Date Production in the Middle East and North Africa ( IDPGN ) ), the International Network for the Class of Unknowns ( MIN ) and the Palm Tree Friends Society in the Emirates ( DPFS ).

In his opening remarks, Minister Oumam Ould Bebbateh emphasized that the fourth edition of the festival is part of the national vision to enhance food security and promote national agricultural resources, particularly dates, which form part of Mauritania’s agricultural and cultural heritage. He noted that the festival has become a platform for Arab and international cooperation and an economic lever for small producers and farmers.His Excellency added that this festival is a true embodiment of the values of partnership and fruitful cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the sisterly United Arab Emirates, thanks to the bonds of brotherhood, history, and a shared development vision that unite our two countries, carefully sponsored by the wise leadership of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, may God protect them. .

His Excellency also valued the General Secretariat of the Award’s provision of 1,000 seedlings of the “Majhool” date palm variety to date palm farmers in Mauritania, expressing his appreciation for the continued support provided by the United Arab Emirates. .

For his part, His Excellency Mr. Hamad Ghanem Al Muhairi, UAE Ambassador to Nouakchott, praised the distinguished bilateral relations between the UAE and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, stressing that this festival reflects the depth of these relations and embodies the vision of the UAE leadership in supporting agricultural development initiatives, foremost among which is palm cultivation, due to its economic, nutritional and environmental value. .

Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Bukhari Zayed, Secretary General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation – Presidential Palace in the United Arab Emirates, stressed that organizing this festival in its fourth session came to confirm the international status and credibility achieved by the award and its vital role in building international partnerships to develop and advance the palm cultivation and date production sector and advance it at the national, regional and international levels, thanks to the award’s enjoyment from the wise leadership 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 award . The Secretary General of the Award added that this festival follows the continuous success achieved by the Award in organizing a series of international date festivals, starting with the Abu Dhabi Dates Exhibition for fourteen consecutive sessions, the Egyptian Dates Festival for eight sessions, the Jordanian Dates Festival for seven sessions, the Mexican Dates Festival for four sessions, and the Pakistani Dates Festival for two sessions, all in cooperation with our strategic partners in the relevant ministries in each country.

Pointing out that this event witnessed an unprecedented participation represented by 62 pavilions and 72 exhibitors from 9 date-producing countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Mexico, in addition to the host country, Mauritania. .The Secretary General of the Award highlighted the importance of the partnership between the Award’s General Secretariat and the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, in coordination with a number of regional and international organizations, aimed at advancing the palm sector and supporting and revitalizing the date industry in Mauritania. This festival also highlights the pioneering role of the United Arab Emirates in supporting and caring for the date palm sector and all projects aimed at developing and growing date cultivation, production, and marketing.

Honoring the winners of the Mauritanian Dates Competition

His Excellency Oumam Ould Bebata, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, along with dignitaries, witnessed the honoring of the winners of the Mauritanian Dates Competition in its fourth session, in which 150 farmers from various Mauritanian states participated. Each winner received an amount of (39,000) Mauritanian ouguiyas, provided equally by the General Secretariat of the Award. The results were as follows:

1 – First category: Best participatory association serving the date palm sector in Mauritania, won by the Talba Oasis Participatory Management Association.

2 – Second category: The best farmer producing the (Salmadina) variety in Mauritania, Mr. Ahmed Hamdi won.

3 – Third category: The best farmer producing the (Sakani) variety in Mauritania, Mr. Dahan Mohamed Mas won.

4 – Fourth category: The best farmer producing the (red) variety in Mauritania, Mr. Aisha Mohamed Aal Fall won.

5 – Fifth category: The best farmer producing the (Mahboula) variety in Mauritania, Mr. Khattar Sidi Muhammad Ali won.

6 – Sixth category: The best farmer producing the (Tantarqal) variety in Mauritania, Mr. Sidi Ramadan won

7 – Seventh category: Best heritage product derived from palm trees in Mauritania, won by Ms. Al-Najiya Al-Mukhtar

8 – Category 8: The best palm farm (pen) in Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Sidi Amsika won

These winners will be awarded a prize of 39,000 new ouguiyas, equivalent to $1,000 each, from the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation. To encourage these winners, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has decided to award an additional prize of the same value to all winners. . Given the importance of participation in the red category, the Ministry also decided to allocate two additional prizes for this category, worth 70,000 ouguiyas for the second runner-up and 60,000 ouguiyas for the third runner-up. . Second runner-up: Mr. Ahmed Kouri Amar, Third runner-up: Mr. Mohamed Lamine Al-Kahel

To encourage the participation of farmers from outside the oases, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty decided to allocate a prize for the best farm outside the oases, with a value of 78,000 thousand ouguiyas, equivalent to $2,000, and it was won by Mr. He is from the district of Aleg, the capital of Brakna State.

A number of figures were also honored for their influential role in the palm cultivation and date production sector in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for the year 2025, namely: Mr. Mohamed Ould Shinoun, Mr. Mustafa Sidat, Mr. Yahya Ould Abdallah, Mr. Sayed Mohamed Ould El Mahdi, and Mr. Moulay Ismail Ould Moulay El Hassan.

The ceremony concluded with a tour of the exhibition pavilions, where attendees were introduced to the most prominent varieties of Mauritanian dates, traditional palm products, and modern agricultural and manufacturing equipment and technologies, amidst great public interest and broad community participation. . With the participation of 64 pavilions and including 133 exhibitors (120 local exhibitors and 14 international exhibitors) of date farmers, producers and manufacturers representing 9 date producing countries (the United Arab Emirates, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Morocco, the United Mexican States, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Republic of Turkey ).

The award provides 1,000 Medjool date palm seedlings to palm farmers in Mauritania.

As part of the continuous support provided by the United Arab Emirates to enhance food security and achieve sustainable agricultural development in brotherly and friendly countries, the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Date Palm Award and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation at the Presidential Court, presented 1,000 date palm seedlings of the “Majhool” variety. To the date palm farmers in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, where the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty received the seedlings along with the General Secretariat of the Award during a special ceremony held for this purpose in the capital, Nouakchott, on Thursday, July 23, 2025, in the presence of His Excellency Professor Ahmed Salem Ould Al-Arabi, Secretary General of the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, His Excellency Professor Hamad Ghanem Al-Muhairi , Ambassador Extraordinary of the United Arab Emirates in Nouakchott, and His Excellency Professor Dr. Abdel Wahab Al-Bukhari Zaid, Secretary General of the Award , with the participation of a number of farmers, producers and agricultural experts in Mauritania. .

17 experts from 6 countries participate in the scientific symposium accompanying the festival:

Dr. Abdul Wahab Al-Bukhari Zaid, Secretary General of the Award, stressed that the scientific symposium accompanying the 4th International Mauritanian Date Festival is a cornerstone for supporting the palm cultivation and date production sector in Mauritania with scientific research, experiments and practical expertise in accordance with the best national, regional and international practices. This came during the opening of the scientific symposium accompanying the festival, which began on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in the city of Kiffa, Assaba State. His Excellency added that the General Secretariat of the Award, within its strategic objectives, works to support and develop the date palm sector in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania by organizing the four editions of the International Mauritanian Date Festival, in cooperation between the General Secretariat of the Award and the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty .

The experts and researchers in palm trees and dates participating in the scientific symposium of the festival reviewed four main themes: techniques for combating the red palm weevil, agricultural practices for date palms, post-harvest practices, and international trade in date palms, with the participation of 17 experts in palm cultivation and date production from 6 countries (the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Mexican States, the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan).