MUSCAT : The Environment Authority confirmed that the expanded network will form an integrated system of ambient air quality monitoring stations operating around the clock. Each unit will be equipped with advanced, internationally accredited devices capable of measuring key pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ground-level ozone (O₃), and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC).

Currently, 56 stations monitor not only air pollutants but also weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and rainfall. Data collected feeds directly into the Naqi app, a digital platform offering real-time air quality indicators through interactive maps and a color-coded system ranging from green (good) to dark purple (dangerous). The app also issues health recommendations and pollution alerts in both Arabic and English, integrating meteorological data to expand its utility for the public.

According to the Agency, data from existing stations show that pollutant concentrations remain within approved limits, with no alarming increases recorded. Any spikes are addressed promptly using international, regional, and local best practices to safeguard public health and environmental safety.

Officials emphasized that environmental protection is a shared responsibility. Successful partnerships with private entities have already led to the installation of additional stations in industrial and free zones, widening the scope of monitoring. The Naqi platform, they added, represents a model for digital transformation in environmental management, serving as a vital tool for awareness, research, and strategic planning.

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