HydrometMENA

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces a convergence of climate, water and socio-economic pressures that make advanced weather and hydrological services more critical than ever. Average temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average, rainfall is becoming more erratic, and the region already has the world’s highest water scarcity levels. From prolonged droughts and heatwaves to flash floods and sandstorms, the MENA region is at the front line of climate extremes.

Gulf states hold sovereign wealth funds exceeding $3 trillion, much of which is earmarked for resilience.  Donors such as the World Bank, GFDRR, UNDP, GCF and ADB are already financing hydromet and early warning projects. There has been encouraging progress. Several regional and national initiatives are modernising hydrometeorological services and early-warning capacity:

• The Arab Climate Outlook Forum (ArabCOF), facilitated by WMO, is improving regional seasonal forecasting collaboration.

• Countries such as Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE have made significant investments in weather radar networks, cloud-seeding research, and renewable-energy forecasting systems.

• The Green Climate Fund, World Bank, UNDP and GFDRR are supporting climate resilience and early-warning projects in Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen.