Explained: UAE's new mission for more rains. Parts of Oman will also be covered

The UAE National Center of Meteorology (NCM) will soon start a field campaign to investigate the performance of different cloud seeding materials with and without electric charge. The drive will be conducted out of Al Ain International Airport, which is otherwise known as the Abu Dhabi's second international airport, in collaboration with US-based Stratton Park Engineering Company (SPEC).

The project includes a series of coordinated flight missions across the UAE and parts of Oman by utilizing NCM's cloud seeding aircraft and an instrumented research Learjet aircraft operated by SPEC. According to news reports, the month-long rain enhancement initiative will start from next week.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Director General of NCM, said: “This research campaign demonstrates NCM’s active role in promoting innovative research in areas related to national priorities including water security.”


"At NCM, we are committed to empowering the local talent and ensuring their active engagement in the development of new technologies that increase rainfall for the benefit of future generations at risk of water shortage," he added.

According to Desert Research Institute, cloud seeding is a technique that improves a cloud’s ability to produce rain or snow by introducing tiny ice nuclei into certain types of subfreezing cloud

As part of the new UAE cloud seeding initiative, the SPEC research aircraft will gather initial measurements of cloud microphysical properties and electrical characteristics at various altitudes to identify cloud target amenable to seeding. Subsequently, the NCM aircraft will conduct cloud seeding involving diverse cloud targets.

The UAE Rain Enhancement Program, affiliated with the National Center of Meteorology, has been awarded the Future Readiness Label in recognition of its achievements in enhancing the UAE's future readiness through the development of capabilities and leadership in proactively addressing water challenges.

According to UAE National Center of Meteorology, the cumulative volume of rainfall in the UAE reached 5.6 billion cubic meters as measured in 2020, of which 280 million cubic meters resulted from rain enhancement operations. The National Center of Meteorology conducted 390 cloud seeding operations during 2020, totaling 1,170 hours.