The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), managed by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), has shortlisted research proposals for the programme’s Sixth Cycle, paving the way for up to $1.5m (AED5.511m) in new project grants.
The selection follows a meeting of UAEREP’s International Technical Review Committee, held at NCM headquarters in Abu Dhabi on 7–8 October 2025, marking the final stage of the evaluation process.
The winning projects and awardees will be officially announced in January 2026.
UAE cloud-seeding initiatives
The committee reviewed 13 full proposals submitted by 58 researchers representing 38 institutions across nine countries, including the UAE.
The proposals were evaluated against five criteria:
- Overall scientific and technical merit
- Significance and innovation (35 per cent)
- Research approach (20 per cent)
- Investigator or team qualifications (20 per cent)
- Capacity building (15 per cent)
- Resources and budget (10 per cent)
Institutions contributing proposals include the University of California (Irvine and Los Angeles), Columbia University, Princeton University, Victoria University, ETH Zurich, Stockholm University, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, Politecnico di Milano, Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the American University of Sharjah, and Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL).
Prominent government agencies also took part, such as the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the Chinese Meteorological Administration’s Weather Modification Centre, the South Korean National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Building a global hub for water-security innovation
Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), said the programme has earned global recognition for driving innovation in addressing water scarcity.
He said: “Over the course of its five previous cycles, the UAEREP has established a strong global reputation as a focal point for groundbreaking innovation aimed at addressing the challenge of global water stress.
“This achievement is aligned with the UAE’s ongoing commitment to supporting international efforts in climate resilience and sustainable water resource management.”
He added that the Sixth Cycle will continue to promote innovative collaborations to mitigate water scarcity through scientific research, reaffirming UAEREP’s status as a global hub for rain-enhancement research.
Science through collaboration
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, thanked the members of the International Technical Review Committee for their “dedication, insight, and spirit of collaboration throughout the multi-phase, merit-based evaluation process.”
She said the selected proposals reflect “months of rigorous work and a wealth of ideas across diverse scientific methodologies, new technologies, and forward-looking approaches,” adding that UAEREP remains committed to helping innovators translate their research into solutions that benefit both the UAE and communities worldwide.
The Sixth Cycle of UAEREP was launched during the 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) in Abu Dhabi in January 2025.
It attracted 140 submissions, from which 16 pre-proposals were selected after an initial review in May 2025.
Researchers were then invited to submit full proposals by August 28, 2025, aligned with the programme’s five priority research areas:
- Optimised Seeding Materials
- Novel Cloud Formation and/or Rain Enhancement Systems
- Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- Limited-Area Climate Interventions
- Advanced Models, Software, and Data
Funding and next steps
Each winning project will receive up to $1.5m (AED5.511m), distributed over three years, with a maximum annual allocation of $550,000. Up to three innovative research projects will be selected.
The Sixth Cycle supports UAEREP’s broader goal to position the UAE as a global centre for research, development, and deployment of rain-enhancement technologies that contribute to global water security.
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