Muscat – Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) unveiled a logo on Monday to commemorate 50 years of Oman’s membership in World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighting the sultanate’s enduring commitment to advancing meteorology and climate science through international cooperation.

On the occasion, Naif bin Ali al Abri, Chairman of CAA, emphasised the importance of this milestone. “Over the past 50 years, Oman has witnessed major progress in meteorological and climate services, which has played a crucial role in supporting sustainable development.”

The logo launch coincided with the 11th meeting of the WMO-CGMS Virtual Laboratory Management Group (VLMG-11) being held in Muscat from January 20 to 23. The event has brought together over 35 representatives from WMO, satellite agencies and centres of excellence. Discussions on Monday centred on enhancing international collaboration in satellite technology, advancing training programmes and exploring new opportunities in satellite applications.

The Centre of Excellence in Muscat specialises in satellite data applications for meteorology and climate science. It provides training for users and researchers from countries in Northwest Asia, Middle East and North Africa. Supported by the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the centre has been an integral part of WMO’s global training network for two decades.

The Muscat centre trained over 500 participants from 27 countries in 2024, offering ten programmes in areas such as climate science, oceanography and data services. It has also developed strong partnerships with local institutions, including Sultan Qaboos University, Royal Navy of Oman and National Space Programme, while collaborating with centres in Morocco and Kenya.

Oman’s WMO membership has significantly boosted its meteorological infrastructure, improving accuracy of weather forecasting and enhancing public awareness of climate change. These efforts have also enabled the sultanate to actively contribute to global initiatives aimed at adapting to and mitigating climate change impacts.

By fostering collaborations and sharing knowledge, Oman remains committed to addressing the challenges of climate change while supporting regional and international progress in meteorology and climate science.