The Emirates Polar Program at the Arctic Circle India Forum

The Emirates Polar Program delegation, with its research arm at the Polar Research Center, participated in the Arctic Circle India Forum, co-hosted by Arctic Circle and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Earth Sciences of India. The event took place in New Delhi at the Taj Palace on 3-4 May 2025.

The theme of the Forum is The Polar Order: The Arctic and Asia | Science - Geopolitics - Climate - Business. Focusing on Asia’s growing role in Arctic affairs, including in polar research cooperation, business opportunities, climate and sustainable development, maritime activities, and geopolitical dynamics.

Hosted in India, the world's most populous country and a fast-growing economy, the Forum underscores the Arctic’s growing relevance beyond its immediate region.

The Emirates Polar Program successfully announced its program mission and objectives through a joint panel with National Center of Polar and Ocean Research and the Arctic University of Norway (UiT). Additionally, the Emirates Polar Program held a panel discussion around the establishment of the recent Polar Research Center hosted currently at Khalifa University, and the increasingly important role of non-polar countries in Arctic affairs, emphasizing the global need for action in the poles. In these times of rising temperatures and tensions, uplifting and prioritizing scientific cooperation is vital to address global challenges.