Rain

UAE Launches New $1.5 Million Rain Enhancement Grant

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the sixth round of its research funding program aimed at boosting rainfall through innovative scientific methods. A total grant of $1.5 million (5.5 million dirhams) will be distributed among three cutting-edge research projects over three years. The announcement was made during the 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF).

The program will fund research in five key areas: cloud-seeding materials, new cloud formation and precipitation enhancement systems, autonomous drone operations, limited climate interventions, and the development of software and data processing tools. These initiatives aim to address the UAE’s pressing water scarcity challenges and enhance water security in the region.

Registration for project proposals is open until March 13, 2025, with preliminary submissions due by March 20, 2025, and full proposals by August 28, 2025. Winning projects will be selected in two stages, with the final winners announced in January 2026.

The UAE has already invested 82.6 million dirhams ($22.5 million) in 11 innovative research projects, resulting in eight patents and three more pending approval. Additionally, three new research projects are currently underway.

This latest grant underscores the UAE’s commitment to leveraging science and technology to tackle environmental challenges and secure sustainable water resources for the future.

Source: Arabian Business