Joint WMO/ITU Regional Seminar on Radio Frequency Matters for Arab Member States
United Arab Emirates
Joint WMO/ITU Regional Seminar on Radio Frequency Matters for Arab Member States (9-10 February 2026)
Date & Time
9-10 February 2026
Location
National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), Abu Dhabi, UAE
Regional Seminar on Radio Frequency matters for Arab states
DAY1
| Time | Session | Speaker |
| 08:30-09:00 | Registration | |
| 09:00-09:20 | Opening | TBD |
| Overview of WMO and ITU activities for meteorology and related environmental fields | ||
| 09:20-09:40 | Overview of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) | Natalia Donoho (WMO) |
| 09:40-10:00 | WMO activities relevant to spectrum matters | Alec Casey (ECCC, ET-RFC Co-Chair) |
| 10:00-10:30 | ITU-R activities relevant to meteorology and related environmental fields | Vadim Nozdrin (ITU) |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee break | |
| Radio technologies of Earth observations | ||
| 11:00-11:30 | Overview of MetSat systems | Markus Dreis (EUMETSAT) |
| 11:30-12:30 | Passive & Active sensing | Yan Soldo (ESA) |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch | |
| Radio technologies of Earth observations | ||
| 14:00-14:30 | Radiosonde, lightning system, radiometer | Safana Judge (UK MetOffice) |
| 14:30-15:00 | Space weather sensor | Eric Allaix (Meteo-France) |
| 15:00-15:30 | Weather radar, wind profiler, oceanographic radar | Jan Rozema (EUMETNET) |
| 15:30-16:00 | Coffee break | |
| Societal economic value of radio spectrum for meteorology | ||
| 16:00-16:25 | Impact of RFI on Numerical Weather Prediction and Climate Reanalysis | Stephen English (ECMWF) |
| 16:25-16:45 | Relation between radio spectrum for Meteorology and Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)(extract from ESSEO report) | Yan Soldo (ESA) |
| 16:45-17:00 | TBD | |
| 17:00 | End of Day 1 | |
DAY2
| Time | Session | Speaker |
| World Radiocommunication Conference | ||
| 09:00-09:30 | WMO preparation for WRC-27 | Alec Casey (ECCC, ET-RFC Co-Chair) |
| 09:30-10:00 | ITU-R preparation for WRC-27 | Vadim or Markus |
| 10:00-10:30 | ASMG preparations for WRC-27 | Dr. Halimouche Ramzi, Chair of Working Group 4, ASMG |
| 10:30-11:00 | Coffee break | |
| Arab session | ||
| 11:00-11:20 | Arab regulator view(s) on matters related to meteorological use of spectrum | TBD (e.g. UAE) |
| 11:20-11:40 | Presentation from a national meteorological weather service of the United Arab Emirates | Mr Karel DeWaal & Mr Andrew VanderMerwe |
| 11:40-12:00 | Presentation from a national meteorological space agency of Saudi Arabia | Dr Saad Al-Majnooni |
| 12:00-12:30 | … extendable to cover more presentations if more speakers show interest! | TBD |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch | |
| Round table and conclusions | ||
| 14:00-14:15 | Identification of the [x] key topics as extracted from the presentations for the Round table discussion in a [x]-slides presentation. | Moderator (TBD) |
| 14:15-15:30 | This session offers attendees a chance to reflect on key points discussed during the workshop and identify actionable takeaways. As identified in the presentation above, topics for discussion include: · Sharing experiences related to engagement between NMHS & NRA · Discussing approaches for presenting WMO positions on specific agenda items to national regulators | Moderator (TBD) |
| 15:30-16:00 | Coffee break | |
| 16:00-16:30 | Continuation of the round table discussion on pre-identified topics | Moderator (TBD) |
| 16:30-17:00 | Further topics participants wish to discuss | Moderator (TBD) |
| 17:00-17:30 | Round up and closing | TBD |