"Emirates Research in Rain Enhancement Sciences" Selects projects eligible to receive a grant for its sixth session
ABU DHABI, 10 October / WAM / The Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, managed by the National Center of Meteorology, announced the selection of research proposals that qualified for a grant for its sixth session, following the meeting of the International Technical Review Committee, which was held at the Center’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi on the 7th and 8th of this October.
The winning projects and researchers awarded the sixth cycle grant will be announced in January 2026.
The research projects that reached the final evaluation stage were subjected to a careful and comprehensive review by members of the International Technical Review Committee, which includes an elite group of experts and specialists. Over the course of two days, they studied and reviewed 13 complete research proposals submitted by 58 researchers, scientists, and experts affiliated with 38 research institutions from 9 countries around the world, including the UAE.
In its evaluation of the full proposals, the committee relied on a set of criteria that included the overall scientific and technical expertise, the importance of presentation and innovation (35%), the methodology followed (20%), the scientific experience of the researcher or team (20%), capacity-building opportunities (15%), in addition to the suitability of resources and budget (10%).
His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos, Director General of the National Center of Meteorology and President of the World Meteorological Organization, said: “During its previous five sessions, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science has achieved a tangible positive impact in terms of encouraging innovative methods and enhancing international cooperation in the field of rain enhancement research, in line with the UAE’s commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at enhancing climate resilience and achieving sustainable management of water resources.”
His Excellency added that with the launch of the sixth session, the program will continue its journey towards developing more innovative scientific solutions to reduce the challenges of water scarcity, by building effective research partnerships and developing new capabilities in rain enhancement science, thus enhancing its position as a leading global program for research excellence in this field.
For her part, Alia Al Mazrouei, Director of the Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, said: “I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the International Technical Review Committee for their distinguished efforts and fruitful cooperation during the evaluation stages, as the selected projects reflect an advanced scientific level and a remarkable diversity of visions, methodologies and technologies, which reflects the seriousness of these proposals and their ability to make a tangible impact in the field of rain enhancement research. We The program is committed to supporting these promising ideas and turning them into practical solutions that serve the UAE’s goals in enhancing water security for communities exposed to the risks of water scarcity around the world.”
Since the Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science announced the opening of the door to receiving research proposals for its sixth session during the Seventh International Rain Enhancement Forum, which was held in Abu Dhabi in January 2025, it has received 140 proposals within the initial stage of the evaluation process, of which 16 research proposals have qualified for the second stage.
The program has set August 28, 2025, as a deadline for submitting full research, with the submitted proposals covering the main priority research areas for the sixth cycle, which include developing improved pollination materials, cloud formation and cloud seeding systems, developing independent weather systems, studying limited climate intervention, and developing advanced models, software, and data.
The sixth session attracted wide participation from many leading universities and research centers in the UAE and the world, including the University of California (Irvine and Los Angeles), Columbia University, Princeton University, Victoria University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Stockholm University, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, and the Polytechnic University of Milan. Khalifa University, Mohammed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence, American University of Sharjah, and Global Aerospace Logistics.
This phase also witnessed broad participation from government agencies active in meteorological science and weather modification research, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Weather Modification Center of the Chinese Meteorological Administration, the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences in South Korea, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Kenya Meteorological Administration.
It is worth noting that, during its sixth session, the Emirates Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science supports up to three innovative research projects by providing financial grants worth US$1.5 million (AED 5.511 million) for each winning project distributed over three years, with a maximum of US$550,000 annually.
This course is based on the program’s new vision, which is to consolidate its position as a leading global model in researching, developing, reviewing and disseminating rain enhancement technologies and implementing its operations to enhance water security in the UAE and the world.
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