Latest Developments: The Sixth Cycle Grants and University Collaborations

In January 2026, UAEREP announced the recipients of its sixth cycle grants, selecting three international teams for projects totaling up to $4.5 million. While principal investigators hail from the United States, Australia, and Germany, each initiative includes close ties to UAE operations through the National Center of Meteorology.

• Dr. Dixon Michael from Echo Science Works (USA) leads "Advancing Cloud Seeding Science with Dual-Polarization Radar Signatures and AI," enhancing evaluation tools for seeding impacts using machine learning—directly upgrading NCM's capabilities for UAE field operations.
• Prof. Linda Zou from Victoria University (Australia) heads "AI-assisted Development and Optimization of Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding Materials," deploying a Portable Ice Nucleation Experiment (PINE) chamber at NCM facilities.
• Dr. Oliver Branch from the University of Hohenheim (Germany) directs "Rainfall Enhancement through Modification of Land Cover and Land Form (RAINLAND)," identifying UAE-specific land designs to boost convection and rainfall.

These grants underscore UAEREP's global outreach while anchoring advancements in UAE infrastructure. UAE universities benefit through joint fieldwork, data sharing, and technology transfer, positioning them at the forefront of applied research. For instance, Khalifa University's ENGEOS lab integrates UAEREP modeling into high-performance computing systems, supporting real-time analysis for local clouds.

The selection process drew over 100 proposals from 30 countries, evaluated by international experts. This cycle emphasizes artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, areas where UAE higher education excels, with programs at Khalifa University offering specialized master's in aerospace and atmospheric sciences.

Khalifa University's Leadership in Rain Enhancement Innovation ☁️

Khalifa University has been a flagship partner in UAEREP since early cycles, securing funding for nanotechnology-based cloud seeding materials. One landmark project explored graphene-enhanced agents to accelerate ice nucleation, achieving higher efficiency in hygroscopic seeding. Researchers developed carbon-sheet nanotube (CSNT) materials, patented innovations that outperform traditional silver iodide.

The ENGEOS laboratory at Khalifa collaborates directly with NCM, incorporating UAEREP project data into operational models. This partnership has produced over 20 peer-reviewed papers and enabled student theses on cloud microphysics. Graduate students participate in lab tours, field campaigns over the UAE deserts, and simulations using NCM's radar networks.

Through UAEREP, Khalifa has trained dozens of master's and PhD candidates, many now in faculty positions or NCM roles. The university's aerospace engineering department integrates rain enhancement modules, preparing students for careers in weather modification—a field projected to grow with UAE's $5 billion investment in water tech by 2030.

Recent collaborations extend to unmanned aerial systems (UAS), where Khalifa engineers design drones for precise seeding delivery, aligning with UAEREP's autonomous tech pillar. These efforts position Khalifa as a hub for arid-region meteorology, attracting international talent and boosting its QS rankings in engineering.

Photo by Jordan Bracco on Unsplash

Contributions from UAEU and NYU Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) advances UAEREP-aligned research through its Institute of Climate Studies, focusing on precipitation enhancement in semi-arid zones. Faculty like Dr. Y. Wehbe have published on UAE rainfall variability, informing seeding strategies. UAEU students engage in UAEREP workshops, analyzing satellite data for cloud categorization—a step-by-step process involving aerosol detection, updraft modeling, and efficacy forecasting.

NYU Abu Dhabi complements this with its Water Research Center, exploring desalination-rainfall synergies. Though not direct grantees, NYUAD faculty collaborate on data assimilation models, training undergrads in Python-based AI tools for nowcasting. These initiatives foster interdisciplinary teams, combining hydrology, AI, and policy.

Other institutions like American University of Sharjah contribute via environmental science programs, hosting UAEREP seminars and student exchanges. Collectively, UAE universities have engaged 63 early-career scientists via UAEREP, producing 105 journal articles and 10 patents.

Capacity Building: Empowering UAE University Students and Faculty

UAEREP's strategic plan (2025-2030) prioritizes education, mandating knowledge transfer in every grant. UAE universities host site visits, where global PIs train local students on techniques like ice nucleation chambers and radar polarimetry. At Khalifa, this translates to hands-on labs: students synthesize seeding agents, simulate cloud dynamics using CFD software, and deploy sensors during UAE operations.

Benefits include:

• Access to NCM's high-performance computing for modeling UAE-specific clouds.
• Internships blending academia and operations, enhancing employability.
• Publications co-authored with international teams, boosting CVs for global roles.

This builds a talent pipeline for UAE's National Water Strategy, with graduates filling roles in meteorology, environmental engineering, and AI-driven forecasting.

Technological Breakthroughs Driving UAE Water Security

UAEREP-funded uni research has yielded tangible advances. Khalifa's nanotechnology project increased precipitation efficiency by 20-30% in trials, using hybrid materials that mimic natural ice nuclei. Step-by-step: materials are engineered at nanoscale, tested in cloud chambers, optimized via AI, then field-deployed via drones.

UAEU studies reveal how landforms like wadis amplify orographic lift, informing RAINLAND-like interventions. NYUAD's modeling integrates satellite and ground data, predicting seeding windows with 85% accuracy. These innovations support UAE's goal of 15% rainfall increase, complementing desalination.

Photo by Reyazul Haque on Unsplash

Challenges and Future Outlook for UAE Higher Education

Challenges include scaling lab results to operations and ethical geoengineering concerns. UAE universities address these via ethics courses and multi-stakeholder forums. The strategic plan eyes AI forecasting, UAS swarms, and land interventions, with unis leading pilots.

By 2030, UAEREP aims for UAE as global rain enhancement hub, with universities central. This attracts funding, elevates rankings, and creates jobs in a $10 billion sector.

Career Opportunities in Rain Enhancement at UAE Universities

UAE higher education offers robust prospects: postdocs at Khalifa ($80k+ tax-free), faculty in atmospheric science (AED 30k+/month), PhDs with stipends. Skills in AI, nanoscience, and meteorology are prized. Programs like Khalifa's MSc in Sustainable Critical Infrastructure prepare graduates for NCM-UAEREP roles.

With UAEREP's growth, demand surges for experts trained at UAE institutions.