New Zealand signs Memorandum of Arrangement with United Arab Emirates

Antarctica New Zealand and Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA), marking the start of a future collaboration in Antarctic research between the two countries. The MoA was formalised in an official signing ceremony with the Emirates Polar Program in Abu Dhabi in February 2025.

The arrangement underscores both nations’ shared commitment to environmental conservation and advancing global scientific cooperation in the polar regions.

While details of the collaboration are yet to be agreed, the arrangement aims to enhance joint Antarctic scientific research, foster academic exchanges, and strengthen capacity building. It prioritises collaborative research projects that deepen understanding of the Antarctic ecosystem, climate change impacts and remote sensing.

The MoA will allow New Zealand and UAE scientists to collaborate on future Antarctic research, combining leading science and cutting-edge technology to help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.

New Zealand’s relationship with the UAE has been recognised more widely, including in the recent work on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.