The United Arab Emirates has initiated a polar research initiative in an effort to solidify its leadership position in the discipline.
The Emirates Polar Program was created during the past year in partnership with Khalifa University and a number of government agencies, and it was unveiled during the UAE Government's Annual Meetings in 2024.
The project is being carried out by the National Center of Meteorology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, and the International Affairs Office of the Presidential Court.
Key research priorities covering scientific, technological, and commercial applications are defined by the project with input from scientists, experts, and diplomats.
The UAE Polar Mission Steering Committee Chair and Head of the Presidential Court's International Affairs Office, Mariam Almheiri, announced plans to create a Polar Research Center at Khalifa University and forge international alliances for further missions.
Additionally, she announced that two Emiratis will embark on an Antarctic expedition on November 7 and that a second expedition to the Arctic is scheduled for 2025.
Almheiri emphasized the project's contribution to increasing the UAE's scientific visibility, advancing climate action, and motivating upcoming Emirati scientific generations.
