site.btaContinued UAE Presence in Antarctica as Part of Bulgaria’s 34th Antarctic Expedition

As the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii set sail on its fourth expedition to Antarctica on November 7, on board the ship was also UAE research equipment. For the second consecutive year, a UAE scientific team is participating in the mission as part of the UAE Polar Program, a national initiative that enhances the country’s involvement in international polar research, in collaboration with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, the National Center of Meteorology of the Emirates said in a press release.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology, and member of the Steering Committee of the UAE Polar Program was at the departure ceremony.

The National Centre of Meteorology quoted Prof. Christo Pimpirev, Director of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, as saying during the launch ceremony that he was satisfied with the growing scientific partnership with the UAE. He noted that the UAE team will continue its work through the UAE laboratories located at the Bulgarian base in Antarctica, where research projects initiated under the UAE Polar Program—launched in 2024—will be developed and upgraded. The program aims to build national capabilities in polar science and to strengthen the UAE’s contribution to global climate research, said the National Center of Meteorology.

Its team has been scientifically and technically prepared to carry out a set of advanced research projects, which were shipped aboard the Bulgarian research vessel. These include UAE polar laboratories to support field experiments, a weather research station to monitor atmospheric climate variables, a tide and sea level station to measure ice melt and sea level rise and provide early tsunami indicators, and advanced equipment to measure methane gas in permafrost and glacial sediments.

As part of the UAE Polar Program, the National Center of Meteorology previously implemented an outreach initiative targeting five national academic institutions and reaching approximately 750 students, with the aim of transferring scientific knowledge and promoting a culture of climate and environmental research. In Varna, Bulgaria, the UAE team participated in a joint scientific training workshop with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, which included presentations on new projects, the exchange of expertise in polar monitoring and measurement methods, and initial medical checks.

The team concluded its official visit to Bulgaria on October 23, after completing training and practical preparation ahead of their field deployment in Antarctica. The UAE team is scheduled to travel to Punta Arenas, Chile on December 15 to join the Bulgarian expedition before embarking toward the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island. The journey will include a five-day sea crossing through the Drake Passage, with expected arrival in Antarctica in early January 2026.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court, and Chair of the UAE Polar Mission Committee, reportedly stated: “This joint UAE mission under the UAE Polar Program reflects the country's commitment to scientific diplomacy and the promotion of international cooperation in research and innovation. Our partnership with the Republic of Bulgaria underscores the UAE’s dedication to building bridges of knowledge, exchanging scientific expertise, and reinforcing its role as an active partner in global efforts to build a more sustainable and progressive future for humanity.”

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Director-General of the UAE National Center of Meteorology (NCM). emphasized that the UAE’s participation in the expedition aligns with a long-term strategic vision that leverages scientific knowledge to serve communities and enhance the global response to climate change. He said: "Our ongoing collaboration with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute represents a practical model of a scientific partnership based on field research and knowledge exchange. Last year, this partnership resulted in the installation of the first two Arab weather and seismic monitoring stations in Antarctica—an achievement that strengthens Arab scientific presence in this vital region and represents a major step in advancing research on the cryosphere and ecosystems impacted by climate change.”

Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University is quoted as saying the university was proud of its student’s participation in this international mission, as well as its research contributions in the field of polar science.