With the support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

organized by khalifa international Award for Date Palm and agricultural innovation in cooperation with Jordan Ministry of Agriculture, and Jordan Dates Association.

1. H.E. Eng. Khaled Hanifat: The festival is a significant shift, in supporting and developing the date palm cultivation and production sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
2. H.E. Mr. Ahmed Ali Al Balushi: The festival came to reflect the depth of the relation between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
3. Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid: The Award is keen to meet the wise leadership's vision, in supporting and developing Jordan's date palm sector.

H.E. Eng. Khaled Hanifat, Minister of Agriculture, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, announced the organization of the Third Jordan International Date Palm Festival, in cooperation with khalifa International Award for Date Palm and agricultural innovation, and Jordan Dates Association at the Jordanian capital Amman, during the period from 21^st to 23^rd November, 2021. Under the patronage and support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, United Arab Emirates. Praising the great efforts of all organization working on the development of the Jordanian date sector, this came during a press conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Amman, on 13^th October, 2021, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Balushi, United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,  H.E. Mr. Nabil Assaf, FAO Representative in Amman, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, United Arab Emirates, Eng. Anwar Haddad, Director of Jordan Dates Association, and a number of international organizations’ representatives, based in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

 H.E. Eng. Khaled Hanifat, then added that this festival came to reflect the depth of the relation between the United Arab Emirates and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The festival also coincides with the significant development the date palm cultivation and production sector and specifically the Mejhoul variety is witnessing in the Jordanian Valley regions, as the Kingdom's production of Mejhoul dates is estimated at about 14% of the global production.

H.E. Eng. Hanifat, then highlighted the fact that the date palm sector in Jordan has witnessed a rapid development, that made it at the forefront of the agricultural sectors in terms of development. Where this sector today has become one of the most important export sectors, whose products reach various countries of the world, and an annual festival has been organized to promote Jordanian dates, as well as a forum for exchanging Jordanian and Arabs’ knowledge, with participants from across the world, which we are proud of.

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Ali Mohammed Al Balushi, United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, also confirmed that the Third Jordan International Date Palm Festival, came to emphasize the depth of the historical relations between the two countries, and the great trust given by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, “May God protect him”, and His Majesty King Abdullah II, in order to work together and develop the date palm sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as this is the main goal of the festival.

H.E. Al Balushi, then added that this success was achieved, with thanks to the wise vision of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, “May God protect him”, the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, and the continuous support of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, United Arab Emirates, and the follow up of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Award’s  Board of Trustees. Following the same lead, the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Amman has spared no effort in providing all facilities and support to ensure the success of this cooperation, and achieve the set goals, by working together to develop the Jordanian date palm sector in general, and the Mejhoul dates in particular.

For his side, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary General of khalifa International Award for Date Palm and agricultural innovation, emphasized the United Arab Emirates’ leading position over the past decades in supporting, and developing the date palm cultivation and production sector, regionally and internationally. Where organizing the Third Jordan International Date Palm Festival at this level, came following the successful journey achieved by Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, over the past years in a number of Arab countries. As the Award organized the Egyptian Date Palm festival for five years. (2015 – 2021), in addition to the International Sudanese Date Palm Festival for four years (2017 - 2021).

Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, also praised the kind patronage of H H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs, United Arab Emirates, to organize the Third International Date Palm Festival, as part of the United Arab Emirates leadership's vision to support and develop the date palm sector in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and to achieve sustainable development. The festival also includes holding a scientific seminar, which will host more than 20 researchers, and academics specializing in date palm cultivation from around the world, as they will participate to present the latest findings of scientific research within three main categories. This is in addition to launching the Jordan dates competition, in its third session, to provide a competitive opportunity to farmers and producers from the Jordanian dates sector, as the winners honoring will be held during the opening ceremony of the festival on 21st November, 2021.

From his side, Eng. Anwar Haddad, President of the Jordan Dates Association, stressed on the fact that this Award constitutes an added value to the Jordanian dates, as it has a positive impact on the economic situation of the agricultural sector. Eng. Haddad also added that the valuable role of the Ministry of Agriculture in developing the dates marketing, as an important crop. In addition to the great role played by the United Arab Emirates in supporting sector.