Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs, received the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in its 18th edition, held in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court.
On the occasion, the minister affirmed that the notable progress achieved by Bahrain’s agricultural sector reflects a national approach centred on resource sustainability and innovation, supported by the care of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He noted that this support has accelerated achievements and strengthened the foundations of sustainable development, enhancing the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s comprehensive development and advancing qualitative progress across its fields.
He also highlighted the pivotal role of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the Consultative Council of the National Initiative for Agricultural Sector Development, in supporting the advancement of the agricultural sector, particularly in date palm cultivation, date production, and strengthening agricultural capabilities in Bahrain. He commended the efforts of Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in following up the afforestation plan and the Bahrain Mangroves initiative, which have achieved notable progress.
The minister underscored the deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, noting their continued development across various domains, particularly in agricultural development and food security. He expressed pride in receiving the award, describing it as an incentive to further develop the agricultural sector, expand the use of modern technologies, and support farmers in a manner that contributes to food security and sustainability.
He noted that Bahrain’s efforts to develop the date palm and agricultural sector include a comprehensive package of initiatives and projects, most notably hosting the International Dates Observatory under the International Dates Council, which monitors and analyses global date production and trade indicators, supporting decision-makers and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a regional hub in this field.
The Kingdom has also expanded the use of modern agricultural technologies, including smart agriculture and greenhouse farming, alongside enhancing agricultural extension programmes, capacity-building, and providing financial and marketing support to Bahraini farmers, as well as strengthening agricultural value chains and launching initiatives to protect date palms.
Bahrain has achieved tangible progress in implementing afforestation and urban beautification plans and expanding green spaces, with 191,000 trees planted in 2025, bringing the total to 2.4 million trees since the launch of the afforestation plan in 2022. The Kingdom has also advanced environmental balance through expanding mangrove cultivation, given its vital role in coastal protection and biodiversity, with more than 2.2 million mangrove seedlings planted across Bahrain’s coasts to date.
The Kingdom continues to prioritise international partnerships and cooperation with specialised organisations, adopting global best practices in agricultural sustainability and food security. In recognition of these efforts, four Bahraini villages were recently honoured by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations for adopting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing food security, reflecting the success of the national approach in developing and sustaining the agricultural sector.
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