UAE Research Programme For Rain Enhancement Science Selects Proposals For Sixth Cycle Grant

The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP), overseen by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), has chosen research proposals for its Sixth Cycle grant. This decision follows a meeting of its International Technical Review Committee at NCM's Abu Dhabi headquarters on 7th and 8th October 2025. The selected projects will be announced in January 2026.

During the final evaluation phase, international experts assessed 13 full proposals from 58 researchers across 38 institutions in nine countries, including the UAE. The panel used five criteria: scientific merit, research approach, team quality, capacity building, and budget. Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, Director-General of NCM and President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), stated that UAEREP has gained a strong global reputation for innovation in addressing water stress.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous remarked, "Over the course of its five previous cycles, the UAEREP has established a strong global reputation as a focal point for groundbreaking innovation aimed at addressing the challenge of global water stress." He highlighted that this aligns with the UAE's commitment to climate resilience and sustainable water management. The Sixth Cycle will continue to seek innovative solutions through research collaborations.

Alya Al Mazroui, Director of UAEREP, expressed gratitude to the International Technical Review Committee for their dedication during the evaluation process. She noted that selected proposals reflect rigorous work and diverse methodologies. "The selected proposals reflect months of rigorous work and a wealth of ideas across diverse scientific methodologies," she said.

The Sixth Cycle began at the 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum in January 2025 in Abu Dhabi. It attracted 140 submissions, with 16 pre-proposals chosen after a May review. Researchers submitted proposals by 28th August 2025, focusing on five priority areas: Optimised Seeding Materials, Novel Cloud Systems, Autonomous UAS, Climate Interventions, and Advanced Models.

This cycle saw participation from leading institutions like University of California (Irvine and Los Angeles), Columbia University, Princeton University, ETH Zurich, Stockholm University, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, Politecnico di Milano, Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), American University of Sharjah, and GAL (Global Aerospace Logistics).

Significant Grant Opportunities

Government entities such as NCAR, Chinese Meteorological Administration’s Weather Modification Centre, South Korean National Institute of Meteorological Sciences also submitted proposals. The programme offers up to US$1.5 million (AED5.511 million) per winning project over three years. Each year can receive up to US$550,000.

The Sixth Cycle builds on UAEREP's vision to become a global hub for rain enhancement research and technology development. This initiative aims to contribute significantly to global water security through innovative solutions.

With inputs from WAM