ATAR, Mauritania, 15th August, 2026 (WAM) -- The fifth Mauritanian International Date Festival 2026 was officially inaugurated on Saturday in Atar, Adrar Region, under the patronage of Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and with the support of the UAE Presidential Court.
Organised by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in partnership with Mauritania's Ministry of Agriculture and several international bodies, the three-day event highlights the strategic partnership between both nations in advancing sustainable agriculture and food security.
The festival features an international exhibition with 76 pavilions and 245 exhibitors from seven countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Mexico, Mauritania and Türkiye.
The opening ceremony also included the presentation of awards to the winners of the fifth Mauritanian Date Competition, which drew 165 entries from across the country, alongside an international scientific symposium showcasing the latest agricultural technologies and post-harvest innovations.
The festival’s opening was attended by Sidi Ahmed Ould Mohamed, Minister of Livestock Development of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; El Houssein Ould Meddou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament; Hamad Ghanem Hamad Al Mehairi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Nouakchott; and Dr Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary-General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, affiliated with the Erth Zayed Philanthropies Foundation – Presidential Court, along with members of the diplomatic corps in Mauritania, and a large number of experts, researchers, specialists and date producers.