Marine engineer Dr. Hussain Khansaheb will represent the UAE on the 2041 Foundation’s Ice Station 2025 Antarctic expedition this December, joining global climate leaders to gain firsthand insight into polar ecosystems and return home to support UAE’s sustainability goals.
DUBAI: In a landmark move highlighting the UAE’s growing role in global climate initiatives, Dr. Hussain Khansaheb, a seasoned marine engineer and the newly appointed National Sustainability Champion for Dubai Holding, is preparing to join Ice Station 2025 — a high‑profile Antarctic expedition organised by the 2041 Foundation. The expedition is led by legendary polar explorer Robert Swan OBE, the first person ever to walk to both the North and South Poles — and a global advocate for Antarctic preservation and climate awareness.
Set to begin on 1 December 2025, Ice Station 2025 will take Dr. Khansaheb and other selected global changemakers to the Union Glacier region, deep within Antarctica. Over 12 days, participants will engage in a unique blend of climate education, scientific observation and polar‑survival training — including glacier travel, overnight camping under 24‑hour sunlight, and cross‑country skiing.
The expedition aims to foster a deeper understanding of global climate systems and showcase how changes in Antarctica — from ice‑sheet melt to ecosystem disruption — can have far‑reaching impacts on vulnerable coastal nations such as the UAE. Climate experts warn that rising sea levels and shifting weather patterns driven by polar thaw could intensify risks for countries with low‑lying coastal zones.
As Dubai Holding’s “National Sustainability Champion,” Dr. Khansaheb will return from Antarctica poised to lead climate‑education initiatives, share firsthand observations and inspire both public and private sectors to deepen their commitment to environmental stewardship. The trip aligns with the UAE’s broader strategy to address environmental challenges including water scarcity, rising heat, and coastal vulnerabilities influenced by global warming.
The expedition underscores a vital message: Antarctica — home to the bulk of Earth’s ice — is not remote from UAE’s concerns. What happens on its frozen terrain can ripple across global climate systems and impact nations thousands of kilometres away. Through this mission, the UAE hopes to bridge distant ecosystems, raise public awareness and strengthen its leadership in global climate advocacy.
