Samara Afar, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – 26^th of August, 2025.

Under the generous patronage of H.E Mr. Addisu Arega Kitessa, Minister of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and with the support of the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates, the First Ethiopia International Date Palm Festival, 2025, was inaugurated, on Tuesday, 26^th of August, 2025, in the Semara, Afar region. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Ato Awol Arba, President of Afar National Regional State, H.E. Rashed Abdulla Alshehhi, Charge’ d’affaires of the UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa, H.E. Dr. Meles Mokennen, State Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture and Horticulture Sector the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Prof., Secretary General, Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Erth Zayed Philanthropies Foundation, UAE Presidential Court, members of the diplomatic corps in Ethiopia; and a large number of experts, researchers, specialists, and date producers. The festival is organized by the General Secretariat of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia, and in coordination with the UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa, and with the participation of regional and international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIS), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), the International Date Palm Network for the Development of Date Palm and Dates Production in the Middle East and North Africa (IDPGN), the Mejhoul International Network (MIN), and Date Palm Friends Society (DPFS).

H.E. Dr. Meles Mokennen, State Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture and Horticulture Sector the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on behalf of H.E Mr. Addisu Arega Kitessa, during his speech in the opening ceremony, emphasized that organizing this festival in its first session represents an important step reflecting the depth of the cooperative relations between Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates, as it strengthens our joint efforts to achieve food security, and sustainable agricultural development.

His Excellency then added that this festival is not only a celebration of a promising agricultural product, but a strategic platform for exchanging expertise, building partnerships, and exploring investment and scientific research opportunities, across the entire date value chain, from cultivation to processing and marketing. "We at the Ministry of Agriculture believe that the date palm tree can play a pivotal role in diversifying date growers’ income sources, providing employment opportunities for youth and women, supporting agro-processing industries, and adapting to climate changes affecting our agricultural system," he stated.

From his side, H.E. Rashed Abdulla Alshehhi, Charge’ d’affaires of the UAE Embassy in Addis Ababa, praised this distinguished event, describing it as the result of outstanding cooperation between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. H.E. also emphasized that it reflects the spirit of partnership between the two countries, based on friendship, mutual respect, and integration in achieving shared developmental goals. H.E. also added that the festival organizers believe that investment in agriculture is an investment in people, stability, and the future.

H.E. Dr. Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Prof., Secretary General, Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, Erth Zayed Philanthropies Foundation, UAE Presidential Court, emphasized that the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, has given special attention to enhancing food security at national, regional, and international levels. He also highlighted that the date palm tree is considered not only a cultural and heritage symbol, but also a developmental, economic, and environmental tool, capable of making a tangible difference in the lives of rural communities, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. "We are pleased today to witness Ethiopia, with its natural and human resources, entering the African date production map, driven by an ambitious vision, institutional support, and promising regional partnerships" he also added.

H.E. Dr. Zaid also added that the First Ethiopia International Date Palm Festival, 2025, is not only a platform for exhibiting and marketing, but a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, innovation, and regional cooperation, aimed at developing this vital sector. At the Award, we believe that this festival marks the beginning of a promising new phase for expanding date palm cultivation in Ethiopia, contributing to food security, rural and national economic development.

Honoring the Winners of the Ethiopian Dates Competition

H.E. Ato Awol Arba, President of Afar National Regional State, H.E. Dr. Meles Mokennen, State Minister of Agriculture, Agriculture and Horticulture Sector the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, accompanied by His Excellency the UAE Ambassador, and H.E. the Award’s Secretary General, along with other distinguished guests, honored the winners of the First session of the Ethiopian Dates Competition. The competition was held with the participation of date growers, from various Ethiopian regions.

The results were as follows:

The Best Dates of “Harissa” variety:

1. Winner: Mr. Hassen Dawud Wie (Afambo)
2. Winner: Mr. Oumer Hassen Idris (Afambo)

The best Dates of “Boolo” variety:

1. Winner: Mr. Abdo Hanfire Hando

The Best Date Palm Farm in Ethiopia:

1. Winner: Mr. Haji Yousuf Debelayitu Cooperative (Asaita)

The Best Date Palm Handicraft Product:

1. Winner: Ms. Asiya Yayo Mohamed Cooperative (Asaita)
2. Winner: Ms. Fatuma Husein Ali (Asaita)

The Best Applied Scientific Research (Paper) on Date Palm in Ethiopia:

1. Winner: Mr. Workia Ahmed, Institute of Biotechnology
2. Winner: Yitages Kuma Beji, Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture, Research, Werer Agri, Research center.

The Award’s General Secretariat of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, then awarded all winners with a cash prize equivalent to USD 1,000 each, along with a trophy, and a certificate of appreciation. This is in addition, to the honoring of a number of distinguished personalities for their influential role in the date palm cultivation and production sector, in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, for the year 2025.

As follows:

1. H.E. Awol Arba Unde, President of Afar National Regional State.
2. H.E. Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, Advisory State Minister to the Ministry of Agriculture.
3. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The ceremony was concluded with a tour in the exhibition halls, where attendees explored the most prominent Ethiopian date varieties, traditional date palm products, and modern agricultural and processing equipment and technologies. The event witnessed strong public interest and broad community participation. Where the exhibition featured 40 pavilions, hosting 94 exhibitors, from 10 date-producing and processing countries: the United Arab Emirates, Arab Republic of Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kingdom of Morocco, United Mexican States, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Turkey.