Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The 8th International Date Palm Conference 2026 has commenced.
With the participation of elite scientists and experts from various countries around the world
Advanced research in artificial intelligence, sustainability, red palm weevil control, and modern production technologies.
Abu Dhabi 29th April 2026(Press Release)::Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chief of the Presidential Court, the 8th International Date Palm Conference commenced this morning, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The two-day conference, running from April 29 to 30, 2026, is witnessing broad participation from ministers, decision-makers, scientists, experts, researchers, and representatives of international organizations and academic institutions from around the world. .
The conference is organized by the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Award, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates University, and in partnership with a number of national, regional, and international entities, including the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, and a number of specialized scientific institutions. .
His Excellency Professor Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Bukhari Zayed, Secretary General of the Award and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, noted that this conference is a high-level international scientific platform for exchanging knowledge, expertise, and the latest innovations in the fields of date palm cultivation, date production, and processing, as well as showcasing best global practices that support the sustainability of this vital sector. It also represents a continuation of a scientific journey that began in 1998, with the 2026 conference constituting the eighth session of this leading international series.He added that the conference program includes specialized scientific sessions addressing the most prominent current and future issues in the sector, including biotechnology, genetic engineering, tissue culture, agricultural production and environmental sustainability, the circular economy and the utilization of palm waste, in addition to post-harvest technologies and the safety and quality of dates, as well as sessions on artificial intelligence and digital transformation. .
The researchers also reviewed a number of advanced studies, most notably the use of artificial intelligence for the early detection of the red palm weevil, the development of biosensors and smart monitoring systems to protect farms, research on carbon sequestration in oases and the role of palm trees in mitigating climate change, as well as studies on producing environmentally friendly insulating materials from palm waste, and manufacturing innovative food products from dates and their byproducts. .
The issue of the red palm weevil received special attention during the conference, with extensive scientific and dialogue sessions dedicated to discussing the latest international strategies for integrated pest management, the use of modern technology, and the exchange of experiences between countries, thus strengthening the efforts of the international coalition to combat this transboundary pest. .
The conference also included a special session to launch the digital platform project for date varieties in the United Arab Emirates, as the first smart national database that documents local varieties using artificial intelligence technologies, and supports scientific research and agricultural decision-making. .
The participants affirmed that the conference reflects the global standing that the UAE has attained in supporting sustainable agriculture and agricultural innovation, and consolidating its role as an international center for the development of the date palm sector, in fulfillment of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,”May Allah have mercy on him”, who made agriculture a civilizational message and a sustainable development approach. .
