diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
index 2a3456d1028..d1e519d8820 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/udat.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,13 @@ udat_setNumberFormat(UDateFormat*    fmt,
     ((DateFormat*)fmt)->setNumberFormat(*((NumberFormat*)numberFormatToSet));
 }
 
+U_DRAFT void U_EXPORT2
+udat_adoptNumberFormat(      UDateFormat*    fmt,
+                             UNumberFormat*  numberFormatToAdopt)
+{
+    ((DateFormat*)fmt)->adoptNumberFormat((NumberFormat*)numberFormatToAdopt);
+}
+
 U_CAPI const char* U_EXPORT2
 udat_getAvailable(int32_t index)
 {
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/udat.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/udat.h
index d6ea01b172a..bf4aba10eec 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/udat.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/unicode/udat.h
@@ -1088,6 +1088,7 @@ udat_getNumberFormat(const UDateFormat* fmt);
 * Set the UNumberFormat associated with an UDateFormat.
 * A UDateFormat uses a UNumberFormat to format numbers within a date,
 * for example the day number.
+* Note: udat_setNumberFormat will clone the UNumberFormat*
 * @param fmt The formatter to set.
 * @param numberFormatToSet A pointer to the UNumberFormat to be used by fmt to format numbers.
 * @see udat_getNumberFormat
@@ -1097,6 +1098,19 @@ U_STABLE void U_EXPORT2
 udat_setNumberFormat(            UDateFormat*    fmt,
                         const   UNumberFormat*  numberFormatToSet);
 
+/**
+* Adopt the UNumberFormat associated with an UDateFormat.
+* A UDateFormat uses a UNumberFormat to format numbers within a date,
+* for example the day number.
+* @param fmt The formatter to set.
+* @param numberFormatToAdopt A pointer to the UNumberFormat to be used by fmt to format numbers.
+* @see udat_getNumberFormat
+* @draft ICU 54
+*/
+U_DRAFT void U_EXPORT2 
+udat_adoptNumberFormat(            UDateFormat*    fmt,
+                                   UNumberFormat*  numberFormatToAdopt);
+
 /**
 * Get a locale for which date/time formatting patterns are available.
 * A UDateFormat in a locale returned by this function will perform the correct
diff --git a/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cdattst.c b/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cdattst.c
index dd62b9a43d8..37e38804fdb 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cdattst.c
+++ b/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cdattst.c
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ static void TestDateFormat()
     UChar* result = NULL;
     const UCalendar *cal;
     const UNumberFormat *numformat1, *numformat2;
+    UNumberFormat *adoptNF;
     UChar temp[50];
     int32_t numlocales;
     UDate d1;
@@ -338,6 +339,16 @@ static void TestDateFormat()
         log_err("FAIL: error in setNumberFormat or getNumberFormat()\n");
     else
         log_verbose("PASS:setNumberFormat and getNumberFormat succesful\n");
+        
+    /*Test getNumberFormat() and adoptNumberFormat() */
+    log_verbose("\nTesting the get and adopt NumberFormat properties of date format\n");
+    adoptNF= unum_open(UNUM_DEFAULT, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL, &status);
+    udat_adoptNumberFormat(def1, adoptNF);
+    numformat2=udat_getNumberFormat(def1);
+    if(u_strcmp(myNumformat(adoptNF, num), myNumformat(numformat2, num)) !=0)
+        log_err("FAIL: error in adoptNumberFormat or getNumberFormat()\n");
+    else
+        log_verbose("PASS:adoptNumberFormat and getNumberFormat succesful\n");
 
     /*try setting the number format to another format */
     numformat1=udat_getNumberFormat(def);