Heavy Rain in UAE: 39 Cloud-Seeding Missions Completed in July 2025
The UAE’s skies have been busy in 2025, with 185 cloud seeding flights carried out this year to boost rainfall. In July alone, 39 missions took place, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
Recent weeks brought moderate to heavy rain, along with dust storms and cooler temperatures, giving residents a welcome break from the summer heat in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
How Cloud Seeding Works
Cloud seeding is a high-tech method to encourage rainfall, aiming to increase precipitation by 10–25%. The UAE uses advanced tools such as hygroscopic flares, nanomaterials, and electric-charge emitters to enhance clouds.
Dr. Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at NCM, explained, “Whenever convective clouds appear, we perform cloud seeding. From January to July, we completed 166 flights, with 39 in July, totaling 185 for this year.”
Annual Cloud Seeding Operations
Every year, the UAE dedicates more than 900 hours to cloud seeding missions. These operations involve:
- 12 trained pilots
- 4 specialized aircraft
- A network of weather radars and automated monitoring stations
The cost is roughly AED 29,000 ($8,000) per flight hour, reflecting the government’s investment in water security and cutting-edge technology. AI and machine learning now help meteorologists target clouds more accurately, improving the timing and efficiency of operations.
Inside a Cloud Seeding Mission
Captain Mark Newman, an experienced cloud-seeding pilot, described a typical mission:
“A mission can last up to three hours. We fly around a targeted cloud, track updrafts, and release salt particles from flares in circular patterns underneath the cloud. Once seeding is complete, we move to the next target.”
Rainfall Impact and Water Supply
Research shows that cloud seeding in the UAE generates 168 to 838 million cubic meters of additional rainfall each year. From this, 84 to 419 million cubic meters are considered usable water, a key contribution in a desert nation where annual rainfall totals about 6.7 billion cubic meters.
Studies indicate seeded areas receive up to 23% more rain compared to pre-seeding periods. Under favorable conditions, cloud seeding can increase rainfall by 15–25%, significantly supporting water security.
Global Recognition
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), launched by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, leads these initiatives. Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, noted:
“Our technological and scientific progress is recognized globally, with potential applications in other countries facing water scarcity.”
Cloud seeding remains a vital tool for ensuring reliable water supplies in the UAE, combining science, technology, and sustainability for long-term benefits.
