Dubai Weather Chaos: How UAE Creates Artificial Rain and Causes Dubai Floods

Cloud seeding is a controversial topic despite its potential benefits. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where annual rainfall averages less than 200 millimeters and temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius, water resources are under pressure, compounded by heavy reliance on groundwater sources. To address this issue, the UAE has pioneered innovative solutions such as cloud seeding, aimed at enhancing precipitation. The process involves weather forecasters monitoring atmospheric conditions to identify suitable clouds for seeding based on precipitation patterns.

The UAE first tested cloud seeding in 1982 and subsequently bolstered its artificial rain program through collaborative scientific and technical research. The Rain Enhancement Program (UAEREP), managed by the Emirates’ National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), spearheads the program. Scientists focused on analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of the UAE’s atmosphere to identify an effective agent to stimulate cloud growth and augment rainfall. Specialized aircraft equipped with hygroscopic flares, containing salt material components, are used to release the seeding agent into the cloud.

The salt particles serve as nuclei around which water droplets condense, eventually growing heavy enough to fall as precipitation in the form of rain. The UAE’s cloud seeding program refrains from using harmful chemicals and instead employs natural salts as seeding agents. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has developed its own seeding agent known as nano material, consisting of fine salt coated with titanium oxide, which is undergoing trials and experimentation to assess its effectiveness in enhancing precipitation. Despite the potential benefits, concerns have been raised about the impact of cloud seeding.

Some have warned against “tinkering” with nature, claiming that heavy rainfall and floods are nature’s way of “pushing back” against human intervention. The UAE continues to monitor the safety and sustainability of its cloud seeding operations while striving to address the pressing issue of water scarcity through innovative solutions.