As climate change drives more frequent and severe extreme weather events, countries are increasingly adopting technology to improve forecasting and disaster preparedness. Saudi Arabia is using artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and resilience of its meteorological systems.

Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam, President of the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Association II (Asia) and CEO of the National Center for Meteorology, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s work at the “WMO AI Conference: AI for Weather Prediction, Advances, Challenges and Future Outlook.” Held in Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 11, the event brought together experts to discuss the application of AI in weather prediction.

Dr. Ghulam highlighted Saudi Arabia’s use of artificial intelligence to improve forecast accuracy, particularly for flash floods and sand and dust storms. He noted the development of AI-driven decision-support systems that enhance the efficiency of cloud seeding operations and help increase rainfall.

“These steps are part of the national orientation to benefit from advanced technologies and to transform climate challenges into opportunities for development and innovation,” he said.

He added that these initiatives align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and demonstrate the Kingdom’s regional role in climate technology and its support for the WMO’s “Early Warnings for All” program.

Dr. Ghulam called for greater international and regional cooperation in applying AI to meteorological and climate sciences. Such collaboration, he emphasized, is crucial to “the protection of lives and property and supporting the sustainability of natural resources.”

Through its AI-driven approach, Saudi Arabia aims to reduce weather-related risks and contribute to broader efforts in global climate resilience.