With 2025 confirmed as one of the hottest years on record, the UAE is accelerating its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen rain enhancement efforts and safeguard long-term water security. As climate change drives higher temperatures and rising evaporation rates, officials say innovation has become essential rather than optional.
The UAE has invested for years in rain enhancement science, but AI is now playing an increasingly central role. Advanced algorithms are being used to analyse cloud behaviour, predict which clouds are most likely to produce rain, and improve the accuracy of cloud seeding operations. By processing vast amounts of atmospheric data in real time, AI systems can help scientists make faster, more precise decisions.
Beyond cloud analysis, researchers are also using AI to develop smart seeding materials designed to be more effective under changing climate conditions. These materials aim to optimise how clouds respond, increasing the chances of rainfall while improving efficiency and reducing waste. AI is additionally being applied to study how land use, terrain, and surface temperatures may influence cloud formation and precipitation patterns.
The push is being supported through the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science, overseen by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Under the programme’s latest cycle, projects can receive up to $1.5 million each, with a stronger emphasis on AI-driven solutions. The funding reflects growing urgency as global warming places additional strain on water resources in arid regions.
Rainfall in the UAE averages less than 100mm per year, and officials warn that higher temperatures are increasing evaporation rates, making water management more challenging. While desalination remains a key pillar of the country’s water strategy, rain enhancement offers a complementary solution that can help replenish groundwater and support long-term sustainability.
Experts say AI will not replace traditional meteorology but will enhance it, allowing scientists to model complex systems more accurately and adapt faster to environmental change. As climate pressures intensify, the UAE’s approach highlights how technology is being harnessed to address one of the region’s most critical challenges: securing water for the future.
