Meteorological licenses: The Meteorology Authority issues 14 licenses to regulate the sector

The National Center of Meteorology in Saudi Arabia has called on all government and private entities, as well as interested individuals and practitioners, to take advantage of the new system that includes 14 types of meteorological licenses and professional and institutional permits. This important step comes as part of the Center's ongoing efforts to regulate the weather and climate sector and ensure the provision of accurate and reliable information that serves various development sectors in the Kingdom and contributes to protecting lives and property.

The importance of obtaining meteorological licenses to regulate the sector

This initiative falls under a broader awareness campaign launched by the center entitled “Don’t Delay It,” which aims to highlight the new regulatory frameworks for the weather sector. Through regulating meteorological licenses, to improve the quality of climate data and reduce the haphazard dissemination of inaccurate weather information. Historically, the meteorological sector in the Kingdom has witnessed significant development since the establishment of organized meteorological services, culminating in the creation of the National Center for Meteorology as an independent entity striving to implement the best international standards. This new regulation contributes to protecting the public and facilities by restricting the practice of these vital activities to qualified professionals and legally licensed entities.

Professional specializations covered by licenses for individuals

The National Center of Meteorology explained that the licensing system available to individuals covers a wide range of specialized fields, ensuring the competence of workers in these areas. These professions include:

• Weather station maintenance technician.
• Weather observer and advanced weather observer.
• Weather forecaster and chief forecaster.
• Supervisor of meteorological maintenance work.
• The chief observer.

These licenses aim to develop and qualify young national cadres to work in accordance with international standards issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), thus providing quality job opportunities and contributing to the localization of technical and engineering jobs in this vital sector.

Licensing of entities and institutions and their role in sustainable development

Regarding institutions and companies, the center clarified that the licenses issued to these entities cover multiple areas to ensure the integration of meteorological work and the development of monitoring infrastructure. These licenses include:

• Licenses to establish meteorological stations (whether under construction or already existing).
• Licenses for the management, operation, and calibration of various monitoring stations.
• Licenses for installation and maintenance work for meteorological equipment and technologies.
• Licenses to provide non-profit services related to the dissemination and exploitation of meteorological data.

These licenses help build a unified and reliable national weather and climate database, supporting decision-making in vital sectors such as aviation, land and sea transport, agriculture, and crisis and natural disaster management.

The local and regional impact of regulating the meteorology sector in the Kingdom

At the local level, this step contributes to supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability, mitigating the effects of climate change, and enhancing emergency response efficiency. At the regional and international levels, regulating the meteorological sector strengthens the Kingdom's position as a leading regional hub for climate services, especially given its hosting of the Regional Center for Climate Change and the Regional Center for Dust and Sandstorm Warning. Providing accurate and reliable meteorological data directly contributes to supporting international efforts aimed at better understanding extreme weather events and reducing their risks to the global economy.