It’s one of the hot topics being talked about at a forum in Abu Dhabi focused on boosting rainfall.
The 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) went down at the Conrad Abu Dhabi, Etihad Towers from January 28 to 30, 2025, bringing together top-tier experts, researchers, policymakers, and weather scientists to dive into everything from cloud seeding to next-gen rain enhancement programs.
The conference spotlighted over 65 main speakers and covered a wide range of topics, including AI integration, drone tech, the potential of new cloud-seeding materials, localized climate interventions, hybrid AI-physics models, and cutting-edge, innovative approaches.
In an interview with WAM, the Emirates News Agency, Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), shared: “The 7th edition of IREF is a game-changing moment in the global conversation around water sustainability and weather innovation, shining a light on crucial topics that will define the future of rainfall enhancement, especially the transformative power of AI and other tech breakthroughs.”
UAE hailstones and milestones
So far, UAEREP has invested Dhs82.6 million into 14 research projects, leading to the development of eight patents, with three more currently awaiting registration.
In August 2023, we caught up with Mr. Omar Alyazeedi, Deputy Director of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), and asked him about the UAE’s cloud-seeding mission. Here’s what he had to say…
How many cloud-seeding missions does the UAE conduct annually?
The UAE carries out nearly 300 cloud seeding missions annually as part of its efforts to enhance rainfall.
Are there certain types of clouds that are more responsive to cloud seeding? If so, what do they look like, and where are they typically found?
Not all clouds react the same way to cloud seeding, but cumuliform clouds, like cumulus clouds, which have a puffy, heaped shape and strong updrafts at their bases, are typically the most responsive to seeding efforts.
How much rainfall per year in the UAE can be credited to cloud seeding?
The UAE has a dry climate, receiving less than 100mm of rainfall annually. A statistical randomization experiment conducted in the summers of 2004 and 2005 showed that cloud seeding can boost rainfall by 15% in a hazy atmosphere, with the potential to increase by up to 25% in clearer conditions.
