Mexico and UAE Deepen Agricultural Ties Through Date Palm Innovation Festival

Fourth International Date Palm Festival Set for November 2025 in Baja California and Sonora

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (KIADPAI) have officially signed a memorandum of understanding to co-organise the fourth edition of the International Date Palm Festival. The event will take place from November 27 to 29, 2025, and will be jointly hosted in the states of Baja California and Sonora—two of Mexico’s fastest-growing regions for date production.

The agreement was signed by Santiago Arguello, General Coordinator of Crop and Livestock Production at SADER, and Abdelouahhab Alboukhari Zaid, Secretary General of KIADPAI. Both officials described the collaboration as a strategic move to enhance agricultural innovation, sustainability, and international cooperation—particularly within the date palm value chain.

Driving Innovation, Trade, and Cultural Exchange

KIADPAI, a UAE-based initiative supported by the Zayed Philanthropy Foundation and the Presidential Court, aims to promote global excellence in date palm cultivation. Its programs span scientific research, technological advancement, sustainability, and international recognition of best agricultural practices. Since 2022, Mexico has partnered with KIADPAI to expand its domestic capabilities, focusing on knowledge transfer and cross-border trade.

As a result of this growing partnership, Mexico’s date palm sector has shown significant expansion in recent years. In 2023 alone, the country exported more than 2,700 metric tons of dates valued at over US$11 million. These exports reached over 20 international markets, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

The 2025 festival is expected to attract researchers, agribusiness professionals, producers, and investors from across the globe. With a full program of exhibitions, technical symposiums, forums, and cultural showcases, the event aims to strengthen Mexico’s role in the international date industry. It also seeks to build new commercial pathways with markets in the Middle East and North Africa, where dates hold both economic and cultural importance.

This fourth edition of the festival will further cement Mexico’s emergence as a key player in global date palm innovation and trade.