Arab Meteorology Ministers Adopt Saudi Initiative to Develop Pertinent Permanent Committee at Fourth Meeting

The Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Meteorology and Climate convened their fourth meeting at the headquarters of the Arab League's General Secretariat in Cairo on Thursday, involving relevant Arab ministers and officials. The meeting addressed the major climate challenges facing the region and explored ways to enhance cooperation mechanisms among member states.

 Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) Ayman Ghulam, head of the Saudi delegation at the meeting, showcased Saudi Arabia's initiative to develop the Arab Permanent Committee for Meteorology, which was approved during the meeting.

 This initiative includes updating infrastructure, adopting digital transformation, developing human capacities, and strengthening international partnerships, all aimed at supporting joint Arab efforts in this vital field.

 In his address on behalf of Saudi Arabia, Ghulam emphasized the importance of strengthening the Arab meteorological and climate system to tackle the accelerating climate changes and extreme weather phenomena that pose direct threats to environmental, food, and water security in several countries.

 He highlighted the Kingdom’s restructuring of its meteorological sector by establishing the NCM as an advanced institution utilizing the latest technologies. The country also expanded its automated monitoring network to cover over 70% of its territory, while increasing the number of Doppler radars to 17, achieving the highest coverage in the Arab region. Additionally, the new Meteorology Law enhances governance and encourages private sector participation in developing the sector.