Rain Enhancement Forum Set to Explore Future of Cloud Seeding Technology
The 7th International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) will take place from January 28 to 30, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, bringing together experts, researchers, policymakers, and weather scientists to discuss the latest advancements in cloud seeding and rain enhancement programs. The event, hosted at the Conrad Abu Dhabi, Etihad Towers, promises to be a landmark event in the global dialogue on water sustainability and weather enhancement.
The conference will feature more than 65 headline speakers, who will explore topics such as the use of Artificial Intelligence, the deployment of drones, and the potential efficacy of new cloud-seeding materials. Other discussions will focus on limited-area climate interventions, hybrid AI-physics models, and completely novel approaches.
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) will also be highlighting its achievements in the field. To date, the program has invested Dhs82.6 million in 14 research projects, yielding eight patents and three pending registrations. The program’s director, Alya Al Mazrouei, stated, “The 7th edition of IREF represents a landmark event in the global dialogue on water sustainability and weather enhancement, focusing on key topics that will shape the future of rainfall enhancement applications, particularly the transformative potential of AI and other technological breakthroughs.”
The UAE has been a pioneer in cloud seeding technology, with the first attempt taking place in 1982. The country’s cloud-seeding program has expanded over the years, encompassing year-round targeting of suitable cloud candidates across the entire UAE since 2006. The program has used environmentally friendly materials, such as hygroscopic salts, and has also started using novel nanomaterials that have exhibited greater efficiency in enhancing precipitation.
The UAE considers water security an essential element of national security and sees cloud seeding as an important tool in ensuring the sustainability of water resources in the country and other arid regions around the world. The country has emerged as a key hub for cutting-edge rain enhancement research, and its program has focused on innovation through methods aimed at stimulating rainfall in arid regions.
The future of cloud seeding in the UAE looks promising, with the country continuing to invest in the technology and research to address water scarcity in the region. The IREF conference provides a platform for experts to share their knowledge and insights, shaping the future of rainfall enhancement and water sustainability.
