The UAE conducts over 900 hours of cloud-seeding missions annually, with significant investments in research and technology made by the government. The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, initiated by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and managed by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), is a globally ambitious program aimed at promoting rain enhancement research and enhancing water security. The country has also collaborated with international organizations and experts to improve its cloud seeding capabilities.
The process of cloud seeding in the UAE is meticulously organized and involves multiple stages, including weather analysis, planning, execution, and monitoring. Special flares containing nucleating agents are released into clouds during cloud seeding, encouraging cloud droplets to grow in size until they become heavy enough to fall as precipitation.
Various methods are employed for cloud seeding worldwide, depending on factors like weather conditions, cloud types, and desired outcomes. In the UAE, environmentally friendly hygroscopic materials, containing natural salts like potassium chloride and sodium chloride, are commonly used and delivered into clouds through flares.

The duration of a cloud seeding mission can vary depending on weather conditions, the type of clouds being seeded, and specific objectives. In the UAE, a typical mission may last about three hours and is conducted when suitable cloud formations are present.
Cloud seeding missions in the UAE are carried out using specially designed Beechcraft King Air aircraft, equipped to transport cloud-seeding flares and canisters. These aircraft are operated by trained pilots in collaboration with meteorologists and cloud-seeding experts.
The pyrotechnic flares used in cloud seeding contain seeding agents, such as hygroscopic materials, which activate condensation and promote processes like collision and coalescence to enlarge cloud droplets. These flares are ignited and released from aircraft or ground-based generators, dispersing the seeding agents into the target clouds.
Cloud seeding has been demonstrated to be a reliable method for weather modification through statistical randomization experiments and field tests. It has yielded positive results in enhancing precipitation and addressing water scarcity challenges in arid regions. However, its effectiveness depends on various factors, including the type of seeding materials, atmospheric conditions, and the expertise of the personnel involved.
Cloud seeding missions in the UAE began with a trial in 1982, followed by annual operations without a strong scientific basis. By the end of 1990, advanced facilities were established to address water security challenges through collaborations with renowned institutions. In 2015, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) was launched, with a focus on advancing rain enhancement science and technology and expanding research funding and partnerships globally. This program aims to boost rainfall not only in the UAE but also in other arid and semi-arid regions.