Overview
- The National Centre of Meteorology named the sixth-cycle UAEREP winners from 140 proposals across 48 countries at a January 21 announcement in Abu Dhabi.
- Each project receives up to $1.5 million over three years, capped at $550,000 annually, to advance science-led rain enhancement.
- Awardees are Dr Michael Dixon for AI-enabled evaluation using dual-polarisation radar, Prof Linda Zou for nanocomposite ice-nucleating agents guided by AI, and Dr Oliver Branch for land-cover and landform interventions.
- Plans include deploying a PINE cloud chamber, AI-driven storm selection and analysis, knowledge transfer, and training to build Emirati capacity at NCM with ties to Khalifa University.
- Officials cited WMO data showing 2025 among the warmest years on record as the UAE expands rain enhancement to support water security in a nation with under 100 mm of annual rainfall and ongoing cloud-seeding operations.