Brief Biography and Achievements

An Emirati national, of 68 years of age, holds a degree in Agronomy (1981) from the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute – Morocco / prepared at the USDA-USA, and a PhD in Horticulture (1990) from Colorado State University – USA, with a GPA 4.00.

Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sonora State University, United Mexican States, 2023.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, undertakes two post-doctoral studies sponsored by the Fulbright Foundation (1993) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (1994).

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, worked for 15 years for the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, and hold positions of increasing responsibility in research and teaching in the field of date palm propagation and production. From Tissue Culture Specialist, to the position of Head of the Plant Physiology Laboratory at the National Institute of Agronomic Research, and subsequently passed to the position of Director of the National Centre of Biotechnology. In September 1990, Dr. Zaid joined the teaching staff of the Department of Botany at the Faculty of Sciences - Semlalia - University Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech, and was then elected as the General Secretary of the National Association of Biotechnology. During this period, he served as a consultant for the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, the World Bank, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other United Nations agencies.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in June 1995 as the Chief Technical Adviser for the Date Production Support Programme in Namibia (UTF-NAM), bringing his background and experience to this Namibian programme in order to contribute to food security and nutrition improvement, poverty alleviation, creation of employment, and the fight against desertification.

Dr. Zaid has also contributed significantly to the FAO Organization’s credibility in various countries by preparing several development projects in Burkina Faso, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Republic of Yemen, Namibia, and Republic of South Africa. He also initiated significantly in providing technical leadership to regional and international agricultural activities.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, is currently working as:
Agricultural Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs in the United Arab Emirates since June (2014), up to today.
Secretary General of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with Erth Zayed Philanthropies Foundation, UAE Presidential Court, since its inception in May, 2007, up to today.
Goodwill Ambassador of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), since December (2015), and for 5 five years period.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, has received numerous awards, honors and other recognitions, including:
- B.R. Sen Award from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (1999).
- Award of Excellence from the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) (2000).
- Honorary Medal from United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2019).
- Certificate of Appreciation to Khalifa International Award for Date Palm & Agricultural Innovation General Secretariat, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2019).
- Letter of Appreciation to Khalifa International Award for Date Palm & Agricultural Innovation General Secretariat, from the UAE Presidential Court, on the important publication entitled “Khalifa Award Report – Bridging Boundaries-“ , 2021.
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sonora State University, United Mexican States (2023).
- Awarded a Gold Medal from Benazir Bhutto University, Islamic Republic of Pakistan (2024).
- Certificate of Appreciation from the UAE Presidential Court, for achieving the requirements of the Outstanding employee.
- Letter of Recommendation from the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, on the ongoing support and achievements in the development of the UAE’s environmental sector.
- Six letters of recognition from His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, “May God protect Him” (2004, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2022, and 2024).
- Plaque of honor for presenting one of the valuable teaching courses, entitled " Date Palm in the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah" in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, during the holy month of Ramadan (May 30, 2019).
- Representing Khalifa International Award for Date Palm & Agricultural Innovation, won the IF design Award, 2023, on the co-edited book “Khalifa Award Report – Bridging Boundaries-“

He is the Founder of the Khalifa International Date Palm Award and was appointed as its Secretary General by Presidential Decree on May 2, 2007.

Since March 2017, he founded the Distinguished Farmer and Innovative Farmer’s Award.

Organized the International Date Palm Conferences from its second (2002), third (2006), fourth (2010), fifth (2014), sixth (2018), seventh (2022), and eighth (2026) sessions, under the patronage of His Highness President of the UAE, “May God protect him”.

Organized the Egypt International Date Palm Festivals (2015-2016-2017-2018-2022- 2023- 2024 - 2025), respectively.

Organized the Sudan International Date Palm Festivals (2017-2018-2019 - 2022), respectively.

Organized the Jordan International Date Palm Festivals (2018-2019-2021-2022 –2023 – 2024 - 2025), respectively.

Organized the Mauritania International Date Palm Festival (2022 – 2023 – 2024 - 2025).

Organized the International Mexico Date Palm Festival (2022 - 2023 – 2025).

Organized the International Pakistan Date Palm Festival (2024 - 2025).

Organized the International Ethiopia Date Palm Festival (2025).

Founder of the Sheikh Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering established in collaboration between UAE University and the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and was appointed as its Director General (2005-2012).

Founder of the International Date Palm Network and was appointed as its General Coordinator, through which he mobilized technical support to serve the date palm tree (since 2004), up to today.

Co-founder of the UAE Date Palm Friends Society, headed by H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, and was appointed as its Secretary General (since 2003), up to today.

Organized the UAE International Date Palm Exhibitions in 1st (2004), 2nd (2006), 3rd (2008) and 4th (2010) held in Al Ain, UAE.

Initiated the tissue culture multiplication of "Al Ain Male " from the orchard of His Highness the President, through the technique of "Organogenesis" and achieved a unique success that exceeded all expectations (2010).

He coordinated with numerous national scientists in several Arab countries to take charge in the date palm sector and agricultural innovation.

He helped qualify a number of national cadres in several of Arab countries (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Yemen, Kingdom of Morocco, People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, State of Libya, ...) to assume responsibility in the date palm and agricultural innovation sector.

He established strong links with those interested in date palm cultivation, agriculture, industry and trade, and provided scientific and technical advice to many countries, institutions and international organizations such as (FAO, UNIDO, ICBA, UNOPS, IFAD, UNDP, ICARDA, DPGN) to promote the date palm cultivation and date production sector in the UAE and the Arab world.

Contributed to encouraging the private sector in the UAE to invest in the field of date palm cultivation in African countries such as Namibia, South Africa and Australia (preparing the project document and supervising its implementation).

He has written numerous scientific books, the most important of which is FAO's "Date Palm Cultivation" under No. 156, in English and Arabic, and the book "Glossary of Biotechnology for Food and Agriculture" under Research and Technology, No. 09 and was published in six languages. He also recently published the “The Mejhoul – The Jewel of Dates” book in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, joined the UAE on June 15, 2000, as Chief Technical Advisor of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to lead a project in developing the palm cultivation sectors and date production using the technology of tissue culture at the UAE University (2000-2013).