Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Nahyan Mubarak announces His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed as Person of the Year 2026
The winners of the award were honored in its eighteenth edition in 2026.
- With the vision of Mohammed bin Zayed… the UAE is consolidating its global position in agricultural innovation
- We appreciate the support and strong backing of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed for the award.
- We appreciate the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed in promoting Zayed’s humanitarian legacy.
- Nahyan witnesses the signing of 4 Memoranda of Understanding and the launch of 5 new scientific books
- From Zayed’s legacy… the UAE is leading agricultural innovation towards a sustainable future
- The UAE is steadily moving towards global leadership in agricultural innovation.
- International cooperation is key to developing the palm sector globally.
- The International Date Palm Conference is a leading global scientific platform.
- The digital platform for dates is a step forward in documenting agricultural knowledge., (Said by H.E Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan)
Abu Dhabi(News Desk)::Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chief of the Presidential Court, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, attended the ceremony honoring the winners of the 18th edition of the award on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Also present was His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hakim El Waer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO) and Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 30 ministers and undersecretaries of agriculture from date-producing countries, in addition to the presence of a number of members of the diplomatic corps in the country, reaching 60 ambassadors, including 35 from the foreign corps and 25 from the Arab corps, directors of 6 regional and international organizations, members of the Board of Trustees, winners and honorees of the award, and a large crowd of specialists and those interested in palm cultivation, date production, and agricultural innovation .
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan affirmed that the Khalifa International Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Award has become a leading global platform for fostering cooperation and dialogue among researchers, experts, and decision-makers, contributing to the development of the date palm sector and advancing agricultural innovation internationally. He noted that this success is an extension of the approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, who made agriculture the foundation of sustainable development in the UAE. .
We are proud of and cherish the achievements of the award.
His Excellency explained that the United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, continues its strong support for the agricultural sector as a fundamental pillar in achieving food security and comprehensive development, stressing the country’s keenness to enhance international cooperation in this field, through strategic partnerships and ministerial meetings that contribute to the exchange of experiences and the building of joint initiatives that serve humanity and development. .
His Excellency pointed out that in the award we are moving forward with the vision of Mohammed bin Zayed… who is leading the UAE’s vision towards sustainable food security based on innovation, as the UAE has established its global position in agricultural innovation.
His Excellency also expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, for his generous patronage of the 8th International Date Palm Conference and his continued support for the award and its impactful initiatives. He also expressed his deep gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Families of Martyrs, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, for his supervision and unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that promote sustainability and solidify the Zayed humanitarian legacy in service to humanity and the environment. .
His Excellency pointed out his pride and honor that the Khalifa International Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Award, which falls under the umbrella of the Zayed Legacy Foundation for Humanitarian Giving, brings to mind and heart the journey of the pioneer of renaissance and progress, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him and grant him paradise. We recall in our minds and hearts what the great founder of the state did in achieving a growing and advanced agricultural renaissance in all parts of the country. We also recall His Highness’s great interest in date palms, his directives to develop methods of cultivating them, and to develop new varieties of them, and even to strive to achieve all the economic, social and human benefits of them, and to adopt in this the latest research, technologies and practices in the world, until the UAE, thanks to God, became at the forefront in all these fields, at the regional and global level.
Person of the Year
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan announced that His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Zayed Charitable Foundation, is the 2026 Person of the Year in recognition of his dedicated and sincere efforts in developing the agricultural sector, particularly date palm cultivation and date production. His Excellency also honored several national and international figures who have contributed to the development of the date palm cultivation and date production sector: Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates; His Excellency Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, Sultanate of Oman; His Excellency Engineer Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture, Kingdom of Bahrain; His Excellency Mr. Alaa El Din Farouk El Sayed, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Arab Republic of Egypt; His Excellency Ahmed Al Tazi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Arab Emirates; His Excellency Mohammed Ghanem Rashid Al Qusaili Al Mansouri, United Arab Emirates; and Emirates Dates, United Arab Emirates. And His Excellency Professor Dr. Mohamed Basri, Honorary Professor, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Kingdom of Morocco.
Honoring the winners of the international award
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan honored the winners of the Khalifa International Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Award in its eighteenth session 2026 as follows: In the category of distinguished research, studies and modern technology, the award was shared between Dr. Fawzi Ahmed Banat, from Khalifa University of Science and Technology , and Dr. Tae-Yoon Kim, from Khalifa University of Science and Technology , United Arab Emirates.
In the category of leading development and production projects, the Green Coast Nurseries Foundation from the United Arab Emirates won the award . In the category of distinguished producers, manufacturers, and marketers, the award was won by Ms. Qumasha Saif Butti Al Mazrouei from the United Arab Emirates.
In the category of pioneering and advanced innovations serving the agricultural sector, the award was shared between… Dr. Salem Al-Babli from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia , and the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit At the American University of Beirut / Lebanese Republic,
Regarding the category of distinguished personality in the field of palm trees, dates, and agricultural innovation, the award was shared between the following: Prof. Dr. Dheeb Yousef Dheeb Oweis / Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , and Dr. Amjad Ahmed Mohammed Al-Qadi From the Arab Republic of Egypt
High-level ministerial meeting
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan also announced the launch of the second session of the High-Level Ministerial Meeting of the International Coalition to Combat the Red Palm Weevil in 2026. This initiative is supported by the Office of International Affairs at the Presidential Court, in cooperation with the Gates Foundation, and through close collaboration between the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, the United Arab Emirates University, and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority. This coalition represents a positive response to the recommendations of the United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP28) . It contributes to enhancing the economic, cultural and social value of date palms, in addition to providing environmentally friendly solutions that contribute to achieving sustainable development in the world.
International praise for the UAE’s efforts
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hakim Al-Waer , Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa ( FAO-RNE), confirmed ) In his address delivered on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), he expressed the organization’s pride in its longstanding strategic partnership with the United Arab Emirates, noting that the UAE has become an inspiring model in leading the transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural and food systems. He also commended the pioneering role of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, which has become a global platform for excellence and innovation, contributing to the support of scientific research and shaping the future of the date palm and date sector. .
His Excellency explained that the date sector continues its global growth, with global production reaching approximately 9.66 million metric tons in 2023. The Near East and North Africa region accounts for more than 75% of global production, thus increasing the region’s responsibility in enhancing the added value of this strategic crop. He added that addressing the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and the red palm weevil requires leveraging innovation, artificial intelligence, and modern technologies, along with empowering women and youth as key partners in ensuring the sustainability of this vital sector. .
Digital platform for date varieties
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan highlighted the importance of the digital platform for date varieties in the UAE, developed by the Zayed Charitable Foundation, the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority. He described it as an advanced tool for documenting knowledge and exchanging expertise, alongside the role of the International Date Palm Conference in supporting scientific research and developing this vital sector. He emphasized that these initiatives embody the UAE’s commitment to continuing its path of innovation and sustainability and strengthening its position as a global center of agricultural excellence. .
8th International Date Palm Conference
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan also announced the opening of the 8th International Date Palm Conference and the launch of its activities at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of 218 scientists and researchers from 30 countries (84 research papers and 74 scientific posters, in addition to the registration of 60 researchers to attend), noting that the conference includes five scientific sessions distributed over three days, which are a special session on the red palm weevil, a session on other pests and diseases of date palms, a session on biotechnology, genetic engineering, and propagation by tissue culture, a session on the cultivation and production of date palms, a session on technical practices of date palms, and related general topics.
Award Achievements
His Excellency also attended the ceremony honoring the winners of the 2026 award, which included the screening of a special documentary showcasing the inspiring journey of the award since its inception in 2007, drawing its roots from the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, who believed that agriculture is a civilizational act and a foundation for stability and sustainable development. .
The film highlighted the qualitative transformation the award has undergone throughout its history, becoming an international platform that combines scientific research, agricultural innovation, and services for farmers, contributing to strengthening the status of date palms as a symbol of identity, generosity, and sustainability. The film also emphasized the continuation of this journey, supported by the wise leadership, to solidify the UAE’s position as a global center for agricultural knowledge and sustainable innovation. .
The film reflected the award’s message of linking heritage and technology, humanity and the land, and the present and the future, emphasizing that the palm tree will remain a steadfast symbol of the values of giving, and that the award is moving steadily towards creating a global impact that serves future generations. .
Signing of 4 Memoranda of Understanding
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award, also witnessed the signing of four Memoranda of Understanding for 2026 with a number of Ministers of Agriculture and Directors of regional and international organizations in a number of countries. The aim is to enhance cooperation between the General Secretariat of the Award and regional and international organizations in a way that contributes to the growth and development of the palm cultivation sector, date production and agricultural innovation at the national, Arab and international levels. The Memoranda are as follows: a Memorandum of Understanding between the Award and Capital Events Company, United Arab Emirates, regarding the organization of the twelfth Abu Dhabi Date Palm Exhibition in 2026; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Award and the Ministry of Agriculture in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania regarding the organization of the fifth International Mauritanian Date Festival in 2026; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Award and the Ministry of Industry in the Arab Republic of Egypt regarding the organization of the ninth International Egyptian Date Festival in 2026; and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Award and the Zera3i platform in the Arab Republic of Egypt regarding the project to develop carbon sequestration from date palms in the United Arab Emirates.
Launch of 5 scientific books
His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan also witnessed the launch of five scientific books issued by the General Secretariat of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, which are as follows: The book “Date Palm Cultivation in the Southern Hemisphere”, the book “Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Date Processing”, the book “Quality and Safety of Dates from Farm to Consumer”, the book “Medjool Dates: Importance, Production Techniques, Valuation and Marketing”, and the book “Technological Heritage for the Use of Date Palm Waste”, where the launch ceremony of the books took place in the presence of the authors of these books.
