Clean Air remains a strategic national priority for the UAE as the country joins the international community in marking the seventh International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7. The UAE is calling for stronger cooperation and practical solutions that improve air quality while supporting climate action and economic resilience.

Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said this year’s observance highlights that clean air is not only an environmental objective. It is also an investment in communities, stronger economies and shared prosperity.

She noted that air pollution and climate change are driven by the same sources. Therefore, integrated action can deliver benefits across climate and sustainable development.

In the UAE, the National Air Quality Agenda 2031 provides a framework for federal and local government entities and the private sector. It focuses on three pillars, monitoring, mitigation and management, with the aim of supporting community well-being.

The agenda covers outdoor and indoor air quality, ambient odour and ambient noise. It is also supported by federal environmental legislation and regulatory requirements designed to strengthen the prevention, control and management of emissions.

Meanwhile, the UAE is expanding its use of digital tools to support Clean Air efforts. The National Air Quality Platform provides a real-time overview of air quality conditions across the country.

In addition, the Ministry has operationalised a centralised digital dashboard to collect and manage air-quality monitoring data from local environmental authorities. The system replaces fragmented submissions with a standardised national digital workflow.

As a result, the dashboard supports data quality assurance, analysis and national reporting. It also strengthens cooperation between federal and emirate-level authorities and helps translate air-quality information into evidence-based policies and targeted measures.

The Ministry has also completed an integrated national emissions Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system. The system covers priority air pollutants alongside greenhouse gas emissions.

It provides a consistent digital process for collecting, reporting, verifying and analysing facility-level emissions data. It also supports the development and improvement of national emissions inventories.

By bringing air pollutants and greenhouse gases into an integrated emissions-management framework, the MRV system strengthens the evidence base for identifying emission sources. It also helps track performance and direct mitigation measures where they can provide the greatest benefits for air quality and climate action.

At the same time, work is progressing on national air-quality forecasting and early-warning capabilities. These systems combine monitoring observations, meteorological information and analytical tools.

This approach is intended to help the UAE move from assessing current conditions to anticipating potential pollution episodes. It can also support earlier and more targeted responses.

According to the ministry, this proactive approach, combined with stronger emissions inventories and scientific assessments of pollution sources, will be important for future-ready air-quality management.

Together, these initiatives mark a shift from isolated monitoring toward a connected national cycle of measuring, understanding, managing and anticipating air-quality risks.

Dr. Amna said clean air is fundamental to quality of life and a resilient, competitive economy. The UAE will continue working with federal and local authorities, the private sector, academia and international partners to accelerate practical solutions and support cleaner air and blue skies for present and future generations.

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed annually on September 7 to raise public awareness and promote actions to improve air quality. The UAE’s continued focus on Clean Air combines national policy, digital monitoring, emissions management and forecasting capabilities.

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