Despite 110 cloud seeding operations conducted since the start of the year, rainfall across much of the UAE has remained sparse, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
This winter season has brought significantly less rain compared to last year, with most areas experiencing only minimal showers. The highest recorded rainfall so far was 20.1mm at Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah on January 14.
The NCM pointed to the La Niña climate pattern as a key factor behind the drier weather. This global phenomenon strengthens high-pressure systems over the Arabian Peninsula, which in turn blocks the arrival of low-pressure systems typically responsible for rain.
Still, the NCM continues to lead the region in advanced cloud seeding, using six aircraft equipped with salt flares and guided by state-of-the-art weather radar. The agency explained that seeding efforts are timed and positioned precisely to target the most promising cloud formations.
While most of the country has seen dry conditions, there have been isolated extremes. On April 16, the Khatm Al Shaqala station recorded a sudden downpour of 254.8mm in just one day—highlighting the unpredictability of weather even during a dry season.
Last year, heavier rains had replenished much of the country’s groundwater and reservoirs. The current season, however, stands in sharp contrast, underlining the challenges posed by natural weather shifts despite continued human intervention.