Description

The UAE Government has prioritized developing a date production industry within its growth plans. Under the leadership of His Highness, The UAE President, efforts are ongoing to boost agricultural productivity and optimize resources. In this context, the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation was established to promote agricultural innovation, research on date palms, and global knowledge dissemination, recognizing individuals and institutions with significant contributions in this field.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948–2022), the UAE's second president and ruler of Abu Dhabi from November 2004 to May 2022, was the eldest son of the UAE's first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He took on a significant role in the late 1990s due to his father's health issues and officially became Abu Dhabi's leader in 2004. His tenure saw cultural and academic growth, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways. Under his leadership, the UAE became a major economic power. Known for his pro-Western stance, he strengthened ties with the US and Israel.