The United Arab Emirates has joined the international Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, becoming the first Arab country to do so and linking Emirati scientists with a global network studying Antarctica and its effects on the world’s climate system.
The move marks a significant shift in Middle Eastern engagement with polar science. Under the Antarctic Treaty System, which reserves the continent for peaceful purposes and guarantees freedom of scientific investigation, the UAE can now contribute research alongside established polar programs from Europe, Asia, and North America.
Building Regional Scientific Capacity
President Sheikh Mohamed launched the Emirates Polar Programme three years ago. It now forms the backbone of the country’s research effort. Mariam Almheiri, head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court and chairwoman of the Emirates Polar Programme Steering Committee, described membership as part of wider regional development. “The UAE’s membership in the committee marks an important milestone for the Emirates Polar Programme and the development of our national capabilities in polar science,” she said. “Scientific progress in the polar regions is built on international co-operation, shared knowledge and long-term partnerships.”
Researchers at Khalifa University’s Polar Research Centre will carry out the work, developing expertise in environmental monitoring and field research in Antarctica. Emirati scientists can now join SCAR’s international research and expert groups, which focus on ice-sheet dynamics, Southern Ocean change, permafrost and geological history. Early-career scientists will have access to committee fellowships, research placements and international scientific exchanges—opportunities that haven’t previously been available in the Arab world.
Climate Change and Coastal Threats
The UAE’s entry into polar research comes at a consequential time for a region vulnerable to climate impacts. Antarctica holds nearly 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater, locked in ice accumulated over millions of years. Global temperatures are rising, and changes in the ice are already reshaping oceans and coastlines far beyond the poles. For a country like the UAE, with extensive coastlines and dependence on global trade routes, understanding polar climate dynamics has direct practical consequences.
Dr Aisha Al Suwaidi, professor of Earth science at Khalifa University, stressed the two sides of this scientific work. “Through Scar, we look forward to contributing to shared scientific priorities and building partnerships across nations in the co-operative spirit that defines Antarctica,” she said. “Alongside this scientific endeavour, we are committed to bringing artists and storytellers alongside scientists, so that Antarctica’s story reaches our society as well as our laboratories.”
Committee president Gary Wilson welcomed the Emirati researchers. “The Emirates Polar Programme already has several strong Antarctic research programmes, and we look forward to including Emirates researchers across the Scar Research programme and building collaborative research efforts to address globally important challenges,” he said.
Raising Awareness Through Expedition
The UAE’s engagement with polar science isn’t limited to laboratories. Dr Hussain Khansaheb, an Emirati marine engineer and Dubai Holding’s inaugural National Sustainability Champion, joined an Antarctic expedition to raise awareness about climate change. He plans to share lessons from the journey with students in the UAE, taking polar research beyond academic circles and into public consciousness.
Antarctica remains one of Earth’s most extreme environments. Much of the continent sits more than 500 metres above sea level, making it the coldest and highest continent on the planet. Winter temperatures can drop below minus 60°C. No permanent human population lives there, and the continent supports only minimal terrestrial life. Yet decisions about how to study, protect and understand Antarctica have consequences that reach every nation.
Why This Matters:
The UAE’s entry into polar research signals a shift toward equitable participation in global scientific governance. For decades, wealthy nations with established Antarctic programs have dominated polar research. Climate change is accelerating and affecting coastlines worldwide, while the absence of Arab and developing-world voices in polar science has left regions most vulnerable to rising seas and changing ocean currents with little say in how researchers generate or share knowledge. The UAE’s SCAR membership creates institutional pathways for scientists from the Middle East and broader Global South to contribute to research affecting their own regions. It also shows that understanding climate change—and preparing for its impacts—requires participation from nations beyond the traditional Arctic research establishment. For a region increasingly threatened by water scarcity and coastal vulnerability, building indigenous scientific capacity in climate science isn’t a luxury; it’s an investment in survival.