Abu Dhabi: The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) held a press conference today at the headquarters of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) in Abu Dhabi. The event aimed to highlight the programme’s key achievements and outline its future plans under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court.
According to Emirates News Agency, as part of its busy agenda for 2025, the programme will mark its 10th anniversary in January 2025, host the seventh edition of the International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) in Abu Dhabi from 28th to 30th January 2025, and launch the sixth cycle of its global grant, which offers up to US$1.5 million per project to support pioneering research in rain enhancement science.
His Excellency Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and President of World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasized the importance of inno
vation and advanced technologies in achieving global water security. He highlighted the UAE’s commitment to scientific collaboration and innovation for sustainable water resources, aligning with global priorities to strengthen and sustain water resources for future generations.
The seventh edition of the International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) will serve as a global platform to discuss the latest advancements in rain enhancement and address water scarcity. It will gather decision-makers, researchers, investors, and stakeholders in water security and weather modification, focusing on strategic pillars such as Collaboration, Innovation, Capacity Building, Artificial Intelligence, and Applied Research. The Forum will emphasize Artificial Intelligence and feature sessions on water security, AI for weather modification, hybrid models, UAV advancements, cloud seeding materials, climate interventions, and innovations for cloud formation and rainfall enhancement.
IREF will provide opportunities for students and
early-career scientists to present their research findings to experts and thought leaders. Local and international research centers, higher education institutions, and initiatives will participate extensively in the event.
The programme will launch its sixth grant cycle in January 2025, focusing on priority research areas like optimized seeding materials, novel cloud formation systems, autonomous unmanned aircraft, localized climate interventions, and advanced data models and software. This cycle demonstrates UAEREP’s commitment to advancing research in autonomous technologies and data systems.
Alya Al Mazroui, Director of the UAEREP, stated that 2025 will be a significant year for the programme with the launch of the sixth cycle grant and continued support for rain enhancement research. The UAEREP provides technical assistance to awardee projects, facilitating data sharing, offering expertise, and providing access to facilities to align projects with the UAE’s environmental and climatic conditions.
The UA
EREP has had an exceptional year, announcing fifth-cycle award recipients and participating in Azerbaijan’s Baku Water Week and a U.S. roadshow. It engaged stakeholders from institutions like Michigan Technological University, NASA, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Columbia University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and City College of New York.
In addition to recent participation in the ASEAN Regional Seminar on Weather Modification 2024 in Thailand, the programme will continue to engage with policymakers, partners, researchers, and scientists through key upcoming events, including the American Geophysical Union annual meeting, COP16 in Riyadh, and COP29 in Baku.