Balgarianovinite.com 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. Continued UAE Presence in Antarctica as Part of Bulgaria’s 34th Antarctic Expedition 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-11-12 10:04:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law