UAE Strengthens Weather-Modelling and Rain-Enhancement Arsenal

A powerful endorsement of the nation's meteorological ambitions emerged as H. H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Presidential Court, inspected the holdings and capabilities of the National Centre of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi. The visit encompassed all pivotal divisions, from operations and forecasting laboratories to cloud-seeding systems, marine monitoring and renewable energy weather forecasting. He was also briefed on a state-of-the-art supercomputer powering numerical weather prediction models, digital alert platforms including “Early Warning for All,” the Science Dome educational facility, and ongoing Antarctic research collaborations.

Weather-modification has become a core strategy in the UAE’s environmental playbook. This year, the NCM conducted 172 cloud-seeding flights to augment rainfall by approximately 10-25 percent. Aerial missions deploy hygroscopic salt-based seeding agents and nanomaterials to stimulate droplet formation in suitable cloud systems. Independent scientific evaluations lend credibility, indicating that cloud seeding yields additional rainfall in the order of 168–838 million cubic metres annually, of which 84–419 million cubic metres is considered usable water.

The methodology is grounded in robust data acquisition and analysis. The NCM integrates radar, satellite, ground station and camera-feed data to identify clouds with seeding potential. Enhanced coordination with AI, real-time camera monitoring and digital platforms bolster both execution and community outreach.

The nation’s position at the frontier of rain-enhancement science is further consolidated through the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, established under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour in 2015. The programme, overseen by the NCM, funds global research collaborations and has funded multiple projects aimed at refining seeding technologies, including nanotechnology and drone-delivered seeding systems.

That investment has delivered measurable returns. Cloud seeding operations have yielded significant rain year-on-year, improving water availability and bolstering aquifers. Studies estimate a 23 percent increase in rainfall over seeded zones compared to pre-seeding patterns.

While hailed for its benefits, cloud-seeding has faced scrutiny. Serious flooding in the UAE in April 2024 prompted speculation about engineered rainfall. Authorities clarified that no seeding was conducted during that extreme event, which experts described as natural and magnified by climate change. Cloud seeding is regarded as an enhancement method, not a means to generate weather extremes.

At the technological core of the NCM, the supercomputer that Sheikh Mansour toured is among the most powerful in the region. It underpins numerical weather prediction models and accelerates climate-data analytics, delivering enhanced forecasting accuracy and faster early-warning dissemination.

Public engagement and international integration are also themes of the NCM’s strategy. Digital tools include alert systems, interactive mapping and smart applications aimed at fostering resilience across demographics. The “Early Warning for All” platform extends protection to citizens abroad during extreme weather. The Science Dome introduces climate literacy to students and the public through interactive exhibits.

The Antarctic partnership introduces another dimension: joint research that links polar science with regional climate intelligence. This underscores the NCM’s commitment to cross-border scientific cooperation.