UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science

Deadline: 13-Mar-25

The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement (UAEREP) requests innovative research and technology proposals that advance the field of rain enhancement, particularly in arid regions.

To date, the program has funded 14 awards (across 5 award cycles), which have advanced, and continue to advance, the science and technologies that underpin cloud seeding operations in the UAE and have contributed to the global knowledge base on rain enhancement. This 6th Cycle proposal solicitation is based on the newly articulated vision and strategic elements of the program. The National Center of Meteorology’s (NCM) vision is for UAEREP to become the globally recognized standard for rain enhancement research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and operations that enhance rainfall and water security in the UAE and globally.

To achieve this vision, the UAEREP strives to:

• Establish scientifically validated technology platforms and verification techniques that contribute to enhancing rainfall and water security in the UAE and globally
• Position the UAE as the global leader in the science, technology, and implementation of rain enhancement

Program Pillars

• The program is built on the following pillars:
  • Managed Grant Assistance: Technical oversight and evaluation
  • International Collaboration: Industry-government-academia
  • Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer
  • Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation

Strategic Elements/Thrust Areas

• For the UAEREP’s 6th Cycle, the program will focus on five Strategic Elements / Thrust Areas:
  • Optimized Seeding Materials
    • Specific Research Topics
      • Experiments in cloud chambers, fog, and natural clouds to improve understanding of cloud physics and precipitation processes (process-level understanding and testing).
      •  Impact of cloud seeding methods and materials on cloud chemistry, physics, and dynamics (processlevel understanding and testing).
      • Characterization of physical properties of seeding flares (particles growth rates, ionization state of particles produced).
      • Testing and leveraging models of multiple rain enhancement strategies and technologies to gain further fundamental understanding from the observations and experiments.
      • Integration of new measurement and numerical tools to gain a clear, scientific understanding of the full chain of events of all the processes involved in cloud formation, rainfall, and rainfall stimulation.
      • Creation of testbeds comprising a mix of field campaign data with in-situ upper air, satellite, and ground measurements (monitoring networks).
      •  Determination of the amounts of seeding materials required to have optimal rainfall enhancement effects.
  • Novel Cloud Formation and/or Rain Enhancement Systems
    • Specific Research Topics
      • Neutral and/or ion chemistry of CCN formation.
      • Laboratory to field studies on enhanced rain-bearing cloud formation, and the adaptation of platforms incorporating on-board sensing techniques for identification of optimal target conditions.
  • Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft Systems
    • Specific Research Topics
      • Development of coordination protocols and communication systems for coordinated, multiple UAS operations.
      • Real-time adaptive strategies that enable effective collaboration in complex atmospheric conditions.
      • Development of precision delivery mechanisms for established UAS platforms.
      • Integration of advanced sensing technologies into established UAS platforms.
      • Autonomy in UAS rainfall enhancement decision-making processes.
  • Limited-Area Climate Interventions
    • Specific Research Topics
      • The potential, and any negative consequences, of specific Limited-Area Climate Interventions.
      • Required legal and governance framework for specific Limited-Area Climate Interventions.
      • Logistics and benefit cost analyses of potential upscaling of radiation flux modification approaches.
      • Understanding of the sea breeze and its interaction with natural and artificial topographical and landform phenomena relevant to cloud and precipitation formation. The potential impact of existing landform modification on moisture and energy fluxes beneficial for cloud and precipitation formation.
      • Optimal designed potential landform intervention with comprehensive cost benefit, environmental, and co-benefits considerations.
      • Quantification of the effectiveness of existing topographical modifications on cloud and precipitation formation and how these can benefit from leveraging on other interventions.
  • Advanced Models, Software, and Data
    • Specific Research Topics
      • Advanced software utilizing cutting-edge algorithms to model cloud microphysics with high precision and efficiency.
      • Cloud chamber models and real-world operations using data-driven models and ML/AI to improve cloud microphysics modeling and seeding effectiveness.
      • Advanced algorithms and specialized software to analyze atmospheric data and cloud properties, leveraging ML/AI to optimize cloud seeding strategies and enhance local process understanding.
      • Data-driven and physics-driven methods with advanced visualization tools and cloud chamber simulations to enhance understanding of cloud physics, precipitation processes, and cloud seeding optimization.
      • Interactive simulation and visualization tools, advanced software platforms, and user-friendly interfaces for accessing, visualizing, and analyzing cloud seeding data.
      • Innovative decision-support systems tailored to support operational decision-making in cloud seeding operations.
      • ML/AI and big data analytics to improve short-term weather forecasting accuracy specifically for supporting decision-making in cloud seeding operations.
      • Enhancing observational networks, creating a centralized data repository, and ensuring data accessibility to support advancements in cloud seeding operations and weather forecasting.

Funding Information

• The program will support up to three awards. It is anticipated that the awards will be valued up to $1.5 million each and dispersed over a three-year period. All awards will be selected by a rigorous, two-stage merit review process, and awardees will be announced in January 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• Domestic (UAE) or foreign, public or private, non-profit or for-profit organizations are eligible to receive this cooperative agreement award. All eligible entities must clearly demonstrate that they have access to the facilities and infrastructure necessary to carry out the proposed project. Eligible entities must also agree to the fiscal arrangements that the Program Secretariat requires to ensure that awardees are able to responsibly manage the funds.
• The PI must have substantial research and management experience in the associated field of science and/or engineering to lead the Project. Co-PIs may share in the responsibility of the scientific or technical direction of the project. The first name listed on the application will serve as the primary liaison to the Program Secretariat and have responsibility for the project management and the submission of reports.
• There are no restrictions to the number of pre-proposals that can be submitted to this competition by a single organization. However, it should be noted that any one organization may only receive one award per competition cycle.
• There are no restrictions to the number of pre-proposals that can be submitted by a PI or Co-PI, but it should be noted that a PI or Co-PI may only receive one award per competitive cycle.
• Proposals submitted to the program must not be either awarded or currently under review by any other entity.

For more information, visit NCM.