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Heavy rains in UAE: 39 cloud-seeding missions conducted in July 2025
Each year, the country conducts more than 900 hours of cloud seeding missions; the cost of these operations is roughly Dh29,000 per flight hour
The UAE has carried out 185 cloud seeding operations so far in 2025, including 39 missions in July alone, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
In recent weeks, moderate to heavy rainfall swept across parts of the country, accompanied by dust storms, haze, and a noticeable drop in temperatures in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. These weather changes have brought welcome relief to residents.
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The cloud seeding efforts aim to increase rainfall by 10 to 25 per cent using advanced technologies such as hygroscopic flares, nanomaterials, and electric-charge emitters.
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In an exclusive interview to Khaleej Times on Monday, NCM meteorologist Dr Ahmed Habib said, “We currently have cloud cover over the Al Ain area, with rain reported there. However, over the next few days, the chance of convective clouds is very weak, and there is no significant chance of rain after Friday; even Friday’s probability is low.”
“Whenever convective clouds form, we carry out cloud seeding operations. From January to July, we conducted 166 flights, with 39 in July alone, bringing the total to 185 so far this year,” he added.
Annual cloud seeding efforts and costs
Each year, the UAE conducts more than 900 hours of cloud seeding missions, backed by significant government investments in research and technology. The cost of these operations is roughly Dh29,000 (US$8,000) per flight hour.
The UAE’s cloud-seeding arsenal includes 12 specially trained pilots, four dedicated aircraft, and a network of weather radars and automated stations.
Technological enhancements such as AI-driven forecasting, machine-learning pattern detection, and real-time monitoring have improved targeting accuracy and operational timing, boosting the programme’s overall effectiveness.
Inside a cloud seeding mission
In a previous interview to Khaleej Times, Captain Mark Newman, who has over ten years of experience piloting the NCM’s cloud-seeding aircraft, explained the mission process.
“A typical mission can take up to three hours and we cover all of UAE's borders. We fly to a target cloud set by the operations [team]. We get there and fly around the base of the cumulus clouds. As soon as we pick up an updraft from that cloud, we then put ourselves into an orbit. We fly in a circular pattern underneath that cloud. That is where we release the salt particles from the flare to enhance the cloud conductivity. Once we have done that, we move away from the cloud.”
Impact: Volume of usable water
Research published in the Nature Research journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science estimates that the UAE’s cloud seeding initiatives generate an additional 168 to 838 million cubic metres of rainfall annually.
The volume of usable water resulting from cloud seeding activities managed by the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) ranges between 84 and 419 million cubic metres.
This contribution forms a significant portion of the UAE’s total annual rainfall, which is about 6.7 billion cubic metres.
Supporting these findings, a study on ResearchGate titled “The UAE Cloud Seeding Programme: A Statistical and Physical Evaluation” shows an average 23 per cent increase in annual surface rainfall over seeded areas compared to the pre-seeding era (1981–2002 vs. 2003–2019).
Research indicates that cloud seeding in the UAE may boost rainfall by 15 to 25 per cent under favourable conditions, a vital contribution to water security in the arid region.
Launched by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs of the UAE and managed by the NCM, the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science is an ambitious global initiative designed to stimulate rain enhancement research and improve water security.
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, previously noted, “The remarkable technological and scientific advancements achieved by UAEREP continue to gain global recognition due to their significant potential for wider applications in countries facing similar water scarcity challenges.”
Nandini Sircar
Nandini Sircar has a penchant for education, space, and women's narratives. She views the world through a prism of learning: whether it's the earthly pursuit of wisdom or the unearthly mysteries of space. In her written universe, women and children take centre stage.
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