UAE and Bulgaria Inaugurate Joint Meteorological and Seismological Laboratory in Antarctica

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the United Arab Emirates and the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI) celebrated a landmark achievement in international scientific cooperation with the official commissioning of a joint research laboratory. Situated at the Bulgarian Antarctic base on Livingston Island, this new facility represents a pivotal advancement in the bilateral partnership between the two nations, specifically focusing on polar research and environmental monitoring. The ceremony served as a formal recognition of the growing ties between the Middle East and the Balkans in the field of high-latitude science, marking a new chapter in collaborative exploration.

The inauguration ceremony took place under demanding environmental conditions, as a powerful storm had been battering the region since February 9. Despite these challenges, the scientific and logistical teams demonstrated remarkable resilience in ensuring the event proceeded as planned. Access to the site was facilitated by the Bulgarian naval research vessel "St. Cyril and Methodius" (RSV 421), which arrived back at Livingston Island on February 9 following a successful mission to the Antarctic Peninsula. This vessel had originally departed from the Bulgarian port of Varna on November 7, 2025, as a core component of the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, highlighting the extensive logistical effort required for such a mission.

This newly established facility marks the first UAE-owned laboratory located within the Bulgarian base. It is specifically designed to serve as a specialized hub for the preparation, technical maintenance, and modernization of sophisticated scientific equipment. Furthermore, it provides a secure environment for storing high-precision sensors used to monitor glacier recession and other critical polar phenomena. This initiative is a cornerstone of the UAE’s polar program, which was launched in 2024 with the objective of building national expertise in polar sciences and contributing significantly to global climate research efforts through dedicated data collection and analysis.

A central feature of this collaborative effort is a modernized seismic station, which was co-developed by Bulgarian and Emirati experts. This station is now capable of transmitting data in real-time, a capability that is essential for maintaining an effective early warning model for potential tsunami threats in the region. Emirati scientists Ahmed Al Kaabi and Badr Al Ameri are currently on-site, continuing their vital research work as active participants in the 34th expedition. Their ongoing presence underscores the hands-on nature of this partnership and the commitment of the UAE to active field research in the most remote corners of the planet.

The opening ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials and academics, including Professor Christo Pimpirev, the long-standing leader of Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions and President of the BAI. He was joined by Flotilla Admiral Boyan Medniarov and Captain-Professor Miroslav Tsvetkov from the Varna Naval Academy. The speakers emphasized that deepening international scientific partnerships in Antarctica has immediate practical implications for global security and climate forecasting. This is particularly relevant given that the total melting of polar ice could potentially raise global sea levels by 60 meters, a scenario that poses an existential threat to coastal nations, including the United Arab Emirates.

The successful deployment of this joint infrastructure on Livingston Island underscores the capacity of both Bulgaria and the UAE to execute complex scientific projects within one of the Earth's most inhospitable environments. This collaboration in the polar regions is a strategic component of the UAE's broader vision to enhance its scientific footprint in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Through scientific diplomacy and the exchange of specialized knowledge, both nations are positioning themselves at the forefront of global efforts to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change, ensuring that scientific progress remains a shared global priority for future generations.