On behalf of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, today attended the official launch of the UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science.

The programme – launched on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week – is an initiative of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MoPA), and is overseen by the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS). It is aimed at expanding global water security through promoting best scientific practices and collaboration in rain enhancement research.

"The sub-tropical nature of our country makes it necessary for us to provide sustainable water resources and we are working on practical solutions to the challenges posed in the field of water security and to offer a pioneering model for minimizing social and economic impacts of water scarcity," Sheikh Mansour said.

This programme, he added, is poised to influence the current rain enhancement research and development in the entire world.

Deputy Chairman of the NCMS Rashid Al Ameri said the programme will identify scientifically verified and sustainably implementable methods of enhancing precipitation to increase rainfall in the UAE, as well as other arid and semi-arid areas in the region.

NCMS Executive Director Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos said the programme will seek to boost innovation in water sciences, one of the seven sectors of the UAE's national innovation strategy.

With that on the priority list, the programme invites innovative research and technology proposals from domestic or foreign, public or private, non-profit or for-profit organizations and, in some cases, individuals.

Selected through a two-stage review process, up to five awardees will each receive a share of the total grant of US$5 million. The grants, which will be disbursed over a three-year period, will be announced in January 2016, following which a new cycle will commence.