UAE Rain Enhancement Science discussed at Morocco conference

The UAE’s techniques of cloud seeding were presented during a conference on global water security held in Morocco.

The United Arab Emirates Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) focused on the UAE's work in addressing global water challenges and the efficiency of cloud seeding, compared to other water management alternatives, at the 22nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Programme, in its debut appearance, hosted a series of high-level meetings with key African policy makers, international media and local researchers.

This first participation at COP is an essential step for the Programme in forging deeper scientific cooperation at the international level. Through establishing strong working relations among like-minded stakeholders, the cloud seeding technology is expected to become affordable and accessible to more countries, and ultimately contribute to their economic and social development.

These high-level meetings, led by Mohamed Al Mheiri, Head of Media and Marketing Services, addressed the long-term social, economic and environmental benefits of achieving global water security. The discussions also underlined the need for more scientific cooperation and international study of this field, especially in regions such as the African continent, where droughts, growing increasingly severe, such as in South Africa or around Lake Chad, continue to hamper progress and development.

"COP22 constitutes for the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science an ideal platform to meet leading researchers and institutions involved in water security research and its implementation. We are at a critical moment in time. Through deeper international cooperation in science and technology, we want to build viable alternatives and serve future generations," said Mohamed Al Mheiri, Head of Media and Marketing Services, about the participation.

While at COP 22, Al Mheiri met with representatives of governments and international organisations, such as the United Nations, the African Ministers' Council on Water, the international Water Association, the Moroccan Meteorological Service and the African Development Bank.

Al Mheiri also held discussions with researchers from Morocco, Chad, Nigeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Sahel and South Africa, and exchanged key insights on the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science.

Throughout these meetings, Al Mheiri emphasised the UAE's objectives to address global water challenges and the efficiency of cloud seeding, compared to other water management alternatives. This first participation of the Programme at COP22 complements the country's Innovation Strategy and its essential role in building a community of knowledge and excellence in the UAE.

The UAEREP team will also hold a panel discussion, entitled Rain Enhancement Science and Technology and its Contribution to Global Water Resources Adaptation, on November 14 at 5 pm at the COP22 Gulf Countries Council Pavilion.