The Khalifa International Date Palm Award was established under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The inauguration ceremony attracted both regional and international attention to the date palm tree and the strategic future of dates as a balanced food product, and highlighted it as an essential part of the sustainable development process initiated by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.