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Advancing rainfall enhancement to strengthen global water security
Rainfall enhancement is not merely a technical pursuit; it is a strategic complement to national water portfolios
- PUBLISHED: Thu 26 Mar 2026, 9:50 PM
- By:
- Alya Al Mazrouei
As we marked World Water Day on March 22, 2026, I found myself reflecting on the profound responsibility we carry in safeguarding our most precious resource. This year, the occasion unfolded against the backdrop of recent regional developments, which not only impact the safety of our communities but also places added pressure on our already‑strained environmental systems.
The recent targeting of water production infrastructure in the region is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of traditional water systems during periods of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Such circumstances introduce a range of risks, from infrastructure disruption to the potential for environmental contamination, which jeopardise the very life-support systems of our region.
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It is in light of these interconnected pressures whether geopolitical, environmental, climatic, or societal, that the strategic vision of the UAE leadership assumes special significance. Guided by a long‑term approach to national resilience and sustainable development, our leaders recognised that water security could not rely on a single, vulnerable source. In 2015, this foresight led to the establishment of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP). Our mission for the past decade has been to systematically and persistently address water scarcity by diversifying our resources through the advancement of rainfall enhancement science and technology.
Rainfall enhancement is not merely a technical pursuit; it is a strategic complement to national water portfolios. It offers a decentralised and nature-based solution that is inherently resilient. As Dr Luca Delle Monache, a UAEREP awardee and Deputy Director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diego, noted during the 7th International Rainfall Enhancement Forum convened in January 2025: “When it comes to rainfall enhancement, UAEREP is the best in the world. It’s a very niche area in atmospheric science. There are few experts in the world and they’re pretty much all convened here now thanks to the UAE.”
This global community of experts is working to bridge the “knowledge gap” in atmospheric science. Our commitment to rigorous, peer-reviewed research is exemplified by foundational studies that provide critical insights into aerosol-cloud interactions, the very physical processes we seek to optimise to increase precipitation. By addressing these complex variables, we move beyond operational trial-and-error towards a high-precision, science-led future.
The impact of UAEREP is best told through the words of the scientists who have partnered with us. Professor Will Cantrell, Associate Provost at Michigan Technological University and a 5th cycle awardee, shared his perspective on the program’s role: “My team and I are thankful for our research collaboration with the UAEREP... We are confident that this research project will make a significant contribution alongside the other research projects that have received program grants in previous cycles.”
Similarly, the programme has enabled breakthroughs in material science that were previously unimaginable. Professor Linda Zou, previously with Khalifa University and now with Victoria University in Australia, whose pioneering work on nanotechnology-based seeding materials is now patented and locally manufactured in the UAE, emphasised the unique platform we provide:
“Using nanotechnology to accelerate water droplet formation... has never been researched before. It is a new approach incentivised by the UAEREP that could revolutionise the development of cloud seeding materials and make them significantly more efficient and effective. I am thankful for the sustained support provided by the UAE for this frontier research.”
Our progress over the last 10 years is tangible across both the UAE and international research ecosystem. According to the UAEREP 2030 Strategic Plan, the programme has already achieved significant milestones, including the registration of 10 invention patents, the training of over 63 students and early-career scientists to build human capital and the development and demonstration of novel seeding materials and field technologies.
As we look towards 2030, the UAE remains ready to continue advancing this field globally. We are building more resilient water security systems that can withstand the pressures of climate change and regional instability alike. Our goal is to ensure that rainfall enhancement is recognised as a reliable, cost-effective and equitable tool for all water-stressed nations
In the words of Dr. Lulin Xue, another UAEREP awardee with US NSF - National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) whose work has been vital in quantifying seeding impacts:
“We thank the UAE leadership for enabling the National Center of Meteorology and UAEREP to support international research for untangling the complex scientific challenges of rainfall enhancement.”
This World Water Day, let us reaffirm our shared commitment to innovation. By rooting our science in collaboration and our strategies in long-term resilience, we can bring rain, hope and security to a world that needs it most.
(Alya Al Mazrouei is the director of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science)
