Riyadh: International Dates Council Executive Director Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz met with Algerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sharif Walid yesterday at the Algerian Embassy in Riyadh. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the council's work and its initiatives aimed at advancing the global dates sector, in addition to discussing Algeria's application to join the council's membership based on previous official correspondence. According to Saudi Press Agency, Algeria ranks third globally in date production, producing approximately 1.3 million tons annually. The country is home to more than 20 million date palms and boasts over 1,000 varieties of dates, underscoring its position as one of the world's leading date-producing nations.