diff --git a/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xml b/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xml
index 0928e6915ee..1e49ecd3fd2 100644
--- a/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xml
+++ b/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
         <keyword>kw1</keyword>
         <keyword>kw2</keyword>
     </keywords>
+    <dates>
+        <date type="Created" value="2020-01-01T12:13:14" />
+        <date type="Superseded" value="2020-01-02T12:13:14" />
+        <date type="Published" value="2020-01-03T12:13:14" />
+        <date type="Revised" value="2020-01-04T12:13:14" />
+    </dates>
     <contact>
         <name>John Smith</name>
         <organization>ACME</organization>
diff --git a/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xsd b/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xsd
index 3d7839741fe..8b790c57835 100644
--- a/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xsd
+++ b/resources/qgis-base-metadata.xsd
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 					<xs:documentation>Set of descriptive keywords associated with a given resource.</xs:documentation>
 				</xs:annotation>
 			</xs:element>
-			<xs:element name="dates" type="rm:datesType">
+			<xs:element name="dates" type="rm:datesType" minOccurs="0">
 				<xs:annotation>
 					<xs:documentation>Set of key dates associated with a given resource.</xs:documentation>
 				</xs:annotation>
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
 	</xs:complexType>
 	<xs:complexType name="datesType">
 		<xs:sequence>
-			<xs:element name="date" maxOccurs="unbounded" type="rm:dateType">
+			<xs:element name="date" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" type="rm:dateType">
 				<xs:annotation>
 					<xs:documentation>A date associated with a resource.</xs:documentation>
 				</xs:annotation>