21st Workshop on Satellite Applications Kicks Off in Muscat

Centre of Excellence Launches 21st Satellite Applications Workshop in Cooperation with EUMETSAT

Muscat: The 21st Workshop on Satellite Applications commenced today in Muscat. The workshop is organized by the Centre of Excellence for Satellite Applications, operating under the Civil Aviation Authority, in cooperation with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and will run for five days.

The workshop aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of satellite fundamentals, while introducing remote sensing systems and their various scientific and operational applications.

A total of 24 trainees from 11 countries across the Middle East and North Africa are taking part in the workshop. These include the Sultanate of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Yemen, the Republic of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Lebanese Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the State of Libya.

The workshop’s programme includes specialized training on the latest satellite applications, particularly third-generation systems distinguished by their high efficiency and advanced coverage of the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Ocean. The training is intended to enhance participants’ capabilities in analysing and studying environmental and meteorological phenomena, while promoting the exchange of expertise and strengthening international cooperation among participating countries.

Khalifa Salim Al Sadairi, Director of the Research and Development Department at the Civil Aviation Authority, said that holding the workshop with the participation of specialists from eleven countries reflects the importance of joint regional action in developing capabilities in remote sensing and satellite applications, particularly in view of the climatic challenges and extreme weather phenomena affecting the region.

He added that the Centre of Excellence in Muscat was established in 2006 and accredited by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as a regional platform for capacity building and knowledge transfer. Over nearly two decades, the Centre has trained hundreds of specialists annually and contributed to strengthening regional integration in the use of satellite data for weather, climate, and marine environment monitoring.

Al Sadairi noted that this session continues the strategic partnership with EUMETSAT and falls within ongoing efforts to expand the use of third-generation satellite technologies, thereby enhancing forecast accuracy and improving the quality of services provided to society.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Abdullah Rashid Al Khudhouri, Director General of Meteorology at the Civil Aviation Authority, said that the 21st edition of the workshop represents an important regional milestone in satellite applications and meteorological sciences, reflecting the Sultanate of Oman’s pivotal role in supporting and developing technical capacities across the Middle East and North Africa.

He explained that the workshop serves as an advanced regional platform for knowledge transfer and expertise exchange, contributing to greater regional integration and cooperation in the use of modern satellite technologies. This, he added, positively supports improvements in meteorological services and enhances preparedness and risk-reduction efforts related to weather and climate-related phenomena.

It is noteworthy that the Centre of Excellence for Satellite Applications has been selected by the World Meteorological Organization as an accredited centre for teaching satellite application sciences.