The Fourth International Date Palm Conference will be held at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 15 – 17 March 2010. It will be attended by international senior government officials, leading members of the scientific community and international growers. The event is hosted by the United Arab Emirates University, with organization and sponsorship from government sectors such as the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the Department of Municipalities and Agriculture / Agriculture Sector, the Ministry of Environment and Water, internationally renowned organizations such as the UNDP, the FAO, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), the ISHS (International Society for Horticultural Science), ICGEB (International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), as well as organizations such as the Khalifa International Date Palm Award, the Date Palm Friends Society, the Date Palm Global Network and Fine Line Advertising and Publishing L.L.C.

Additionally, the opening ceremony of this Fourth International Date Palm Conference will be coupled to the award distribution of the Khalifa International Date Palm Award’s Second Session 2010, which is of great importance at both regional and international levels.

Under the leadership of His Highness, The President, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, there are continual efforts to increase UAE date palm productivity, to make better use of the date palm industry and to produce an agricultural leap that will change the face of the UAE desert. The Fourth International Date Palm Conference illustrates the special attention and priority given by His Highness to this important economic sector. The upcoming conference is the fourth one in a series of international conferences organized by UAE during the last 11 years (March 8 –10, 1998; March 25 – 27, 2001; and 19 – 21 February, 2006). Date palm scientists, experts, and senior officials from around the world will be able to exchange their know-how and expertise. The Honorable Ministers of Agriculture of the GCC member states will be invited to attend the conference in order to disseminate relevant knowledge and make official recommendations.

Nearly 105 participants from 26 countries and several international organizations have already confirmed their participation in the Fourth International Date Palm Conference. Interesting abstracts are being submitted by participants from the following countries : Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, K.S.A, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Syria,Tunisia, U.A.E, U.K, U.S.A and Yemen.

The conference will aim to: Provide an opportunity for updating scientific information on the different aspects of date palm production, from Farms to Consumers; Compare the recent experiences in the United Arab Emirates with those of other date growing countries; Foster international technical cooperation on different aspects of date palm cultivation.

The conference will have the following central theme: New Dimensions and Challenges for Sustainable Date Palm Production.

Registration forms, visa applications and accommodation forms and details can be found on the conference website. The official second announcement of the conference, with full conference details, can also be found on the website. Post-conference tours will be held after the conclusion of the event.