emirates7 - Since the beginning of 2025, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has conducted 172 cloud-seeding flights as part of an ongoing initiative aimed at increasing rainfall in the UAE by 10 to 25 percent, based on previously approved research.
The centre explained that current cloud-seeding methods involve the use of specialized aircraft, advanced seeding materials made from natural salts and innovative nanomaterials, as well as charge emitters that introduce electrical charges into clouds.
The program is expanding to evaluate the effectiveness of modern materials combined with electrical charging, alongside advanced numerical models that simulate the chemical, physical, and electrical processes within clouds with unprecedented precision.
Experiments have also tested techniques such as generating vertical air currents with jet engines and using lasers to encourage cloud formation.
New artificial intelligence tools are being developed to autonomously assess cloud conditions in real time and identify the best moments for seeding, supported by satellite imagery and radar that can forecast cloud activity up to six hours in advance.
The NCM reported that the 2025 winter season (December 2024 to March 2025) brought a total of just 4.3 millimeters of rainfall nationwide, a significant decrease compared to 48.7 millimeters recorded during the previous winter.
The wettest 24-hour period this season was 20.1 millimeters recorded at Jebel Jais on January 14, with the highest monthly total of 21.4 millimeters also observed there in January.
In contrast, the 2024 season’s highest daily rainfall reached 167.1 millimeters at UAE University in Al Ain on February 12, and the highest monthly total was 227.9 millimeters in Umm Al Ghaf in February.
The centre attributed the difference to changes in regional pressure systems over the past two years, indirectly influenced by the La Niña climate phenomenon.
According to the NCM, La Niña causes subtropical high-pressure systems over the Arabian Peninsula to strengthen, which inhibits the movement of low-pressure systems and reduces the chances of rain-bearing clouds.
These factors, combined with variations in atmospheric circulation, have limited both the frequency and amount of rainfall in 2025.
Although no new records were set this season, the NCM emphasized that increasing rainfall is vital for supporting the UAE’s water resources and reservoirs, aligning with the country’s goals for sustainable water security.
The centre explained that current cloud-seeding methods involve the use of specialized aircraft, advanced seeding materials made from natural salts and innovative nanomaterials, as well as charge emitters that introduce electrical charges into clouds.
The program is expanding to evaluate the effectiveness of modern materials combined with electrical charging, alongside advanced numerical models that simulate the chemical, physical, and electrical processes within clouds with unprecedented precision.
Experiments have also tested techniques such as generating vertical air currents with jet engines and using lasers to encourage cloud formation.
New artificial intelligence tools are being developed to autonomously assess cloud conditions in real time and identify the best moments for seeding, supported by satellite imagery and radar that can forecast cloud activity up to six hours in advance.
The NCM reported that the 2025 winter season (December 2024 to March 2025) brought a total of just 4.3 millimeters of rainfall nationwide, a significant decrease compared to 48.7 millimeters recorded during the previous winter.
The wettest 24-hour period this season was 20.1 millimeters recorded at Jebel Jais on January 14, with the highest monthly total of 21.4 millimeters also observed there in January.
In contrast, the 2024 season’s highest daily rainfall reached 167.1 millimeters at UAE University in Al Ain on February 12, and the highest monthly total was 227.9 millimeters in Umm Al Ghaf in February.
The centre attributed the difference to changes in regional pressure systems over the past two years, indirectly influenced by the La Niña climate phenomenon.
According to the NCM, La Niña causes subtropical high-pressure systems over the Arabian Peninsula to strengthen, which inhibits the movement of low-pressure systems and reduces the chances of rain-bearing clouds.
These factors, combined with variations in atmospheric circulation, have limited both the frequency and amount of rainfall in 2025.
Although no new records were set this season, the NCM emphasized that increasing rainfall is vital for supporting the UAE’s water resources and reservoirs, aligning with the country’s goals for sustainable water security.