Manama: Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, met with Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Executive Director of the International Dates Council, during her visit to Bahrain for the Bahrain International Show (Mara'ee 2025). The primary focus of the meeting was the potential establishment of the International Dates Observatory headquarters in Bahrain.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting highlighted the observatory's role in supporting the development of the dates industry and enhancing research and monitoring capabilities for the sector both regionally and internationally. The discussions also covered potential cooperation opportunities between the Ministry and the International Dates Council. These include initiatives related to dates production, improvements in supply chains, and advancements in technical and research exchange.
Al Mubarak expressed appreciation for the council's support of date-producing countries and emphasized that hosting the observatory would significantly advance the sector and bolster Bahrain's status as a regional hub for agricultural and food industries.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah bint Bandar acknowledged Bahrain's cooperation and willingness to host the observatory, stating that the choice of Bahrain reflects its progress in the palm and dates sector and its commitment to research and innovation. She emphasized the council's intent to expand collaboration with relevant Bahraini authorities and to jointly develop programs that support date-producing countries and facilitate knowledge exchange. She noted that further steps are planned for implementing the observatory project, with anticipated benefits at local, regional, and international levels.