UAE’s Cloud Seeding Efforts Bring Rain to Eastern Regions

Recent heavy rains in Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, and other eastern parts of the UAE were no coincidence — they were the result of advanced cloud seeding operations carried out by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

On a recent mission in Al Ain, airport staff guided a twin-propeller Beechcraft aircraft onto the runway. The plane was fitted with special salt flares designed to be fired into clouds. Once in the air, flying about 9,000 feet above sea level, the crew targeted the whitest, most promising clouds, releasing the flares to encourage condensation and trigger rainfall.

The UAE’s cloud seeding program is not limited to a specific season — missions are launched year-round whenever suitable clouds are detected. In Abu Dhabi, NCM’s control room is equipped with state-of-the-art weather radar, allowing continuous monitoring of the country’s skies.

As one of the first countries in the Arabian Gulf to embrace cloud seeding, the UAE uses some of the most advanced techniques available globally. Specially designed salt flares have been developed to suit local weather conditions, and private aircraft are customized for these missions, ensuring the technology delivers maximum impact.

Through these efforts, the UAE continues to pioneer innovative ways to boost rainfall and enhance water security for the future.