Abu Dhabi: The UAE will announce on Monday a prestigious world date palm award during a gala ceremony held at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific research, will launch the Khalifa International Date Palm Award in the presence of Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Dr Jacques Diouf, Director General of Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development Dr Salim Al Lousi, and prominent date palm researchers and experts.

Named after President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the award will not only be the first but also the largest of its kind in the Arab world, said Shaikh Nahyan, who is also chairman of the award board of trustees, in a statement on the eve of the launching ceremony.