UAE Boosts Rainfall Efforts with 80 Missions

TDT | Manama

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The UAE has conducted around 80 cloud seeding missions since the beginning of 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance rainfall and strengthen national water reserves, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

Officials said the operations are carefully targeted and only carried out when suitable convective clouds are present. Dr Mohammed Al Abri, Director of Meteorology at the NCM, explained that not all cloud types are viable for seeding.

“We target only convective clouds suitable for cloud seeding, while stratiform clouds are not included,” he said, noting that this natural limitation often leads to variations in rainfall intensity across different areas.

He added that cloud movement and formation cannot be controlled, meaning some regions may receive heavier rainfall while others remain largely dry. This variability, he stressed, is part of normal weather behaviour and not a limitation of the seeding process itself.

The cloud seeding programme forms part of the UAE’s broader strategy to increase rainfall, replenish groundwater, and improve long-term water security, especially in arid conditions where natural rainfall is limited.

Meteorologists also expect light rainfall in the coming days due to a shallow low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, with western and eastern parts of the country most likely to be affected.

Dr Ahmed Habib, a meteorology expert at the centre, confirmed that cloud seeding operations will continue throughout 2026 and beyond, depending on suitable weather conditions