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UAE experiences hottest April in over a decade; why is there less rainfall this year?
Despite the reduced rainfall, the Emirates continues its cloud seeding efforts when seedable clouds are present
The UAE has experienced a noticeable drop in rainfall this year and one of the hottest Aprils (so far) in over a decade.
Compared to 2024, amounts of rainfall received this year have been much lower, as the country continues its ambitious cloud seeding programme to enhance precipitation in a dry and increasingly hot climate.
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According to Ahmed El Kamali, a meteorology expert at the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the reduction in rainfall is linked to a global weather phenomena.
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Reasons behind the phenomenon
In an interview with Khaleej Times on Tuesday, he said, “Globally, we are affected by a large-scale weather event called La Niña. It involves a significant cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, along with shifts in tropical atmospheric circulation, such as changes in wind patterns, air pressure and rainfall. This probably explains why we are receiving much less rainfall compared to last year,” he said. “Last year, we had extreme weather conditions in the UAE, but this year has been relatively quiet.”
Despite the reduced rainfall, the UAE continues its cloud seeding efforts when seedable clouds are present. “As long as we have seedable clouds that can enhance rainfall, we will try to get the maximum amount of rainfall from them,” El Kamali explained. “So far in 2025, we’ve conducted 110 cloud seeding missions.”
In 2024, the country carried out 388 cloud seeding operations, a record number that could potentially be matched again this year if local cloud activity picks up, particularly during the summer and winter seeding seasons.
The UAE maintains a fleet of four aircraft and a team of 12 pilots who operate round-the-clock missions based on radar data that identifies optimal cloud conditions. “We even conduct night flights,” El Kamali added. “Radar coverage extends across the entire country and into neighbouring regions to help guide the operations.”
Data from 2021 shows that cloud seeding can boost rainfall by up to 25 per cent under favorable conditions, and around 15 per cent in dustier, more turbid environments.
El Kamali said, “The majority of seedable clouds occur during the winter months, from December to March, when the entire country is typically covered by cloud cover.”
“In the summer, the mission takes place again, from June to September. During this time, cloud seeding is mainly focused on the eastern and northern regions, as well as some southern areas. Locations such as Fujairah, Massafi, and Al Ain are common, and occasionally, Ras Al Khaimah, Liwa, and Hameem in the southern parts may also be affected. However, the focus is primarily on the eastern regions.”
What temperature was recorded this April?
Meanwhile, temperatures are surging as the country transitions from spring into summer.
Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), noted that the UAE is experiencing one of the hottest Aprils in the past decade. “On 26, this year, temperatures reached 46.6°C — the highest recorded so far this month,” he said in an interview on April 29, adding that the "month isn’t over yet".
According to NCM’s data, the highest April temperature on record has been 46.9°C in Al Ruwais in 2012, making this year’s figure one of the closest on record.
Habib attributes the heat to a thermal low-pressure system extending from the Arabian Desert. “We are currently under the effect of a southerly wind and a warm air mass. It’s normal to feel intense heat at the end of spring,” he said, adding that internal areas of the UAE could continue to see daytime highs of 46 to 47°C in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, the NCM expects more cloud formation over mountainous regions in the eastern UAE during the summer months, particularly from June to September, driven by the monsoon and associated convective activity.
“From late June to late September, convective clouds commonly form — particularly over the eastern mountain regions — due to the influence of the monsoon. While this pattern aligns with the regional climate, it is also affected by prevailing pressure systems,” added Habib.
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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