Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has appointed Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director-General of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), as the UAE’s official candidate for the Presidency of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) from 2023 to 2027.
Dr. Al Mandous currently serves as the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the WMO and the President of Regional Association II (Asia) of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
Dr. Al Mandous is highly regarded and well-known to the global weather and climate community, with over 30 years of experience in meteorology and climate science. The Director General has played a crucial role in advancing the UAE’s meteorological capabilities and has contributed to the development of the national meteorological organisations.
The UAE’s official announcement in support of my WMO presidency candidacy reiterates the importance the country attaches to meteorology, weather, climate, and related water and environmental issues. It is a top priority for our country to ensure that it pools its expertise and human capital with other National and Global Organisations to accelerate the development of comprehensive early warning systems to protect lives from the impacts of natural disasters.
Dr. Al Mandous shared.
“By supporting the WMO in its efforts to lead the development of cutting-edge meteorological technologies, the UAE seeks to ensure accurate and reliable climate-related data and services for the benefit of communities across the globe,” Dr. Al Mandous added.
Ms. Shaima Mohammed Al Ali, Director of International Organisations at MoFAIC, commented on the appointment, stating that “at a time when the world is facing multiple challenges due to climate change and the upcoming UAE’s Presidentship of COP 28 during November 2023, the candidacy of Dr. Al Mandous for WMO presidency is a timely decision by the UAE, given his experience and track record in leading several national, regional, and international meteorological entities.”
As the UAE’s official representative for the WMO Presidency, Dr. Al Mandous is expected to accelerate an internationally coordinated action to achieve the UN Secretary-General’s call to ensure that “every person on Earth is protected by Early Warning Systems in the next five years.” This can be achieved by working together with WMO’s key stakeholders and promoting resilience to the socioeconomic consequences of extreme weather, climate, water, and other environmental events.
The candidacy of the UAE’s representative for the WMO Presidency aligns with the country’s efforts to further consolidate its international status. It offers a great opportunity for the country to enhance its engagement and cooperation with the international community to find practical solutions with long-term economic as well as social benefits to the region and the entire world.