Rain Enhancement Grants Awarded In UAE Sixth Cycle
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science has named three awardees for its Sixth Cycle grants. Managed by the National Center of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi, the programme will support projects by Dr. Dixon Michael, Prof. Linda Zou and Dr. Oliver Branch. Their research focuses on cloud seeding, nanomaterials and land-surface design to improve rainfall in the UAE.
Each selected proposal will receive up to US$1.5 million, equal to AED 5.511 million, over three years. Funding will be capped at US$550,000 each year for every project. The grants target science-based work that can support water security and climate resilience, while also building technical skills within the National Center of Meteorology.
The Sixth Cycle process began at the 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum in Abu Dhabi in January 2025. UAEREP attracted 140 submissions from international institutions. After a detailed first screening in May 2025, 16 pre-proposals advanced to further review. Three final projects were then chosen for full funding, reflecting both scientific quality and potential operational use.
UAEREP’s Sixth Cycle focuses on three distinct approaches to rain enhancement. One concentrates on advanced weather radar and artificial intelligence. Another explores new glaciogenic seeding materials using nanotechnology and AI analytics. The third investigates whether reshaping land cover and land forms can trigger moist convection and raise rainfall, especially under local climate conditions.
The funded project led by Dr. Dixon Michael, Principal Radar Meteorologist and Software Engineer at Echo Science Works in Boulder, develops new tools for cloud seeding assessment. The work will enhance LROSE/TITAN systems. It will move beyond reflectivity-based storm tracking to examine microphysical pathways, while applying transparent methods that account for uncertainty in seeding impact evaluations.
Prof. Linda Zou, Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities at Victoria University in Australia, will lead a separate project. The research will create advanced nanocomposite materials acting as ice nucleation agents for glaciogenic cloud seeding. AI-powered analysis will help optimise these materials, supported by measurements from a Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment cloud chamber.
The Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment chamber will be installed at the National Center of Meteorology during the closing project phase. Prof. Linda Zou’s team will also run a practical training workshop at the centre. The workshop will support NCM specialists in using PINE data and in applying the optimised glaciogenic materials in operational seeding strategies.
At the University of Hohenheim in Germany, Senior Scientist and Head Coordinator of the Land Atmosphere Feedback Observatory, Dr. Oliver Branch, will coordinate the RAINLAND project. This research uses theory, observation and simulation to test if altering land cover and land topography can initiate moist convection. The goal is to identify land-form structures and locations that enhance rainfall over the UAE.
| Awardee | Institution / Country | Project Title | Maximum Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Dixon Michael | Echo Science Works, USA | Advancing Cloud Seeding Science with Dual-Polarization Radar Signatures and AI | US$1.5 million over three years |
| Prof. Linda Zou | Victoria University, Australia | AI-assisted Development and Optimisation of Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding Materials | US$1.5 million over three years |
| Dr. Oliver Branch | University of Hohenheim, Germany | Rainfall Enhancement through Modification of Land Cover and Land Form (RAINLAND) | US$1.5 million over three years |
Describing the broader direction, Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation and Director General of the National Center of Meteorology, said, "Under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, UAEREP has established itself as a global hub for scientific collaboration, attracting leading scientists and research institutions from around the world. This reflects a fundamental approach of the broader UAE – we practice what we preach, investing with intelligence in practical and sustainable innovation. Since its inception, the National Centre of Meteorology has been a key enabler of UAEREP’s success by providing access to state-of-the-art meteorological infrastructure, advanced research facilities, and operational expertise, thereby creating an environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence."
Alya Al Mazrouei, Director of UAEREP and Director of the Research and Weather Enhancement Department at NCM, highlighted the calibre of the new projects. Alya Al Mazrouei said, "We congratulate the awardees of the Sixth Cycle, whose proposals demonstrate the highest standards of scientific innovation and practical application. The awardees will benefit from UAEREP’s accumulated knowledge, technical resources, and extensive network of global collaborations to achieve their project objectives. This will allow them to develop practical, science-based solutions that deliver tangible outcomes, contributing to global efforts in water security and climate resilience."
With the Sixth Cycle underway, UAEREP continues to channel targeted funding, infrastructure access and collaborative networks toward applied rain enhancement research. The three projects combine radar science, nanomaterials and land-surface design, and are planned to strengthen both global understanding and local operational capacity at the National Center of Meteorology for future weather modification efforts.
With inputs from WAM
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