Under the Patronage  of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, President of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the Award’s General Secretariat announced the opening nominations for the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation at its 13^th Session (2021) and the applications for nominations by the date growers and producers, researchers, date palm tree lovers and agricultural innovation from various countries as of June 14 till December 31, 2020, through the website of the award,  www.kiaai.ae. In addition, the opening of candidature was also announced for the Distinguished and Innovative Farmer Date Grower’s Award in its 4th Session (2021), organized by the Award’s General Secretariat in cooperation with Al Foah Company, by giving the opportunity to date palm growers in the United Arab Emirates to submit their applications to Al Foah Company by calling the toll-free number 8005551 to register and compete to win in one of the Award’s categories.

This came after the virtual press conference held by the Award's General Secretariat through the Zoom platform in the presence of more than sixty figures from international organizations, Arab region and international media, in which Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, the Award’s Secretary-General, pointed out that the great success achieved by the Award over 13 years, is through the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the patron of the Award, “May God protect him, ". His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,  UAE Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and the continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and the follow up by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, President of the Award’s Board of Trustees, where he formed the great openness to the local, regional and international communities that best resulting in increasing the number of candidates in various categories of the Award during thirteen years

For his part, Dr. Helal Humaid Saeed Al Kaabi, member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, indicated that the total number of candidates for the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation since its inception has reached 1495 participants representing 52 countries. As the number of participants from the Arab countries reached 1183 candidates, 203 candidates from the UAE, and 109 candidates from the rest of the world. While the number of Award winners since its inception has reached 73 winners, including 41 winners from Arab countries, 19 winners from the UAE, and 13 winners from foreign countries. Furthermore, 51 dignitaries were honored, including national, regional and international organizations, 23 of whom were from the Arab countries with 22 personalities from the United Arab Emirates, and 6 personalities from the rest of the world.

The Award’s Competition is split into five categories:

 1- The Category of Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology

2-The Category of Pioneering Developmental and Productive Projects

3-The Category of Distinguished Producers in the Date Palm Sector

4-The Category of Pioneering Innovations developed to serve the agricultural sector

5-The Category of Influential Figure in the Field of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation

The candidature submission is open until December 31, 2020, where applications for nominations are submitted through the award’s website www.kiaai.ae