United for

Water Security

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7th

International Rain Enhancement Forum

Hybrid Forum

OVERVIEW

About IREF

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Presidential Court, the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), through the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, will host the seventh edition of the International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF). IREF is a global platform at the forefront of rain enhancement research that convenes leading international and national experts, researchers, scientists and stakeholders to tackle critical water and sustainability issues worldwide.

When

Tuesday to Thursday
28-30 January 2025

Speakers
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Attendees
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High-Impact Sessions
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Main Pillars
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Insightful Discussions

Gain unparalleled knowledge from leading experts through carefully curated sessions focused on the latest advancements in rain enhancement and water security.

Strategic Dialogues

Engage in meaningful dialogues with thought leaders to explore actionable strategies that address the challenges of climate change and water scarcity.

Collaborative Opportunities

Build connections with key stakeholders, from industry leaders to researchers, and foster partnerships that drive global solutions in water sustainability.

Event Speakers

Meet our speakers

IREF will be gathering the best and brightest local and international experts where they will be utilizing their years of experience into presentations and discussions around the latest updates on Rain Enhancement, Meteorology and Weather Forecasting

Join Our Quest for a Water-Secured World

Be part of the solution Secure your spot  Secure your spot

At the International Rain Enhancement Forum (IREF) today and engage in high-level and technical discussions on advancing the science and technology of rain enhancement.

Our Agenda

event schedule

Check out the themes and schedule for all sessions

Day 1
28 JAN 2025

Tuesday

OPENING CEREMONY & UAEREP’s 10TH ANNIVERSARY
PLENARY SESSION 1: REGIONAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES ON WATER SECURITY

International leaders discuss the impact of climate change on water resources and explore strategies for sustainable water management.

PLENARY SESSION 2: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR WEATHER MODIFICATION: FUTURE PATHWAYS

Experts highlight AI’s role in climate prediction and weather modification, focusing on innovative applications and collaborative strategies.

PRESS CONFERENCE
LUNCH BREAK
SESSION ONE: HYBRID AI-PHYSICS-BASED MODELS AND DATA SCIENCE FOR CLIMATE AND WEATHER RESEARCH: PATHWAY TO WEATHER MODIFICATION APPLICATIONS

Discussion on hybrid AI-physics models to improve weather forecasts and their potential applications for climate intervention.

NETWORKING | End of Day 1
Day 2
29 JAN 2025

Wednesday

GUESTS’ ARRIVAL AND NETWORKING / VIRTUAL ATTENDEES JOINING
SESSION TWO: ADVANCES IN AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS FOR WEATHER MODIFICATION APPLICATIONS

Explores the role of unmanned aerial systems in rain enhancement, focusing on technology, regulations, and autonomous decision-making.

COFFEE BREAK
SESSION THREE: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF NOVEL CLOUD SEEDING MATERIALS

Covers advancements in cloud seeding materials and the transition from research to operational use, highlighting socio-economic and regulatory challenges.

LUNCH BREAK
SESSION FOUR: STUDENT & EARLY-CAREER SCIENTIST POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Poster Session

Students and early-career scientists present research on rainfall enhancement, showcasing innovations from both local and international institutions.

NETWORKING | End of Day 2
Day 3
30 JAN 2025

Thursday

GUESTS’ ARRIVAL AND NETWORKING / VIRTUAL ATTENDEES JOINING
SESSION FIVE: LIMITED-AREA CLIMATE INTERVENTIONS AS A CATALYST FOR RAINFALL ENHANCEMENT

Discusses how geoengineering trends and landform modification might impact rainfall enhancement efforts as part of climate change mitigation.

COFFEE BREAK
SESSION SIX: NEW APPROACHES AND INNOVATIONS FOR CLOUD FORMATION AND/OR RAINFALL ENHANCEMENT

Showcases non-conventional methods for cloud formation and rainfall enhancement, examining ground-based and airborne innovations beyond traditional techniques.

NETWORKING LUNCH | End of Forum
Event Gallery

Photo & Video Gallery

Explore our captivating collection of moments captured through stunning photos and videos, showcasing the highlights and essence of our events.

our Testimonials

what people say About IREF

Hear from experts and partners sharing their experiences and insights in advancing rain enhancement science and technology

Rain enhancement is a very important initiative for the UAE given its relevance to the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and the UAE Food Security Strategy. This is the underlying reason for rain enhancement to be one of the seven pillars of the UAE's innovation strategy.

Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri Head of the International Affairs Office at the Presidential Court

Among the adaptation measures available today, rain enhancement has the potential to play a significant role in mitigating drought and reducing temperatures. Addressing water scarcity is also a priority in the UAE’s second nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement.

His Excellency Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi Former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment

Everybody's talking about the weather, but nobody's doing anything about it. I'm happy to say that this group of scientists and supporters is indeed doing something about it. Water is part of the food-water-energy nexus, crucial for human existence.

Ray O. Johnson Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and Former TII CEO

Addressing challenges like water security requires a strong science and technology community, capable of analyzing and developing innovative solutions. Water security is not just a regional issue but a global one.

His Excellency Omran Sharaf Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Advanced Science & Technology

The impacts of climate change are very visible. We have seen changes in global precipitation and evaporation patterns, which threaten water resource availability for human beings, agriculture, industry, and various other purposes. Enhancing the amount of rain by injecting chemicals into clouds is a much-needed and interesting approach to combat this negative trend caused by climate change. This conference has been very timely in that sense, and from WMO’s side, we are grateful to the UAE government for financing this important activity.

His Excellency Prof. Petteri Taalas Former Secretary-General, WMO

We have a lot of scientists from all over the world, a lot of researchers and people in the field working on rain enhancement and climate change.

Yodahe Zemichael Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister, Ethiopia

We are here looking forward to the new findings in research and advancements in the technology of rain enhancement, as well as in modeling and AI technologies applied to the forecast of cloud formations and rain enhancement.

Dr. Diana Francis Head ENGEOS Lab, Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Khalifa University, UAE
General Questions

Frequent Asked Questions!!

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Get Direction to the Event Venue

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Venue:

Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers

Address:

Corniche Rd - Al Bateen - Abu Dhabi

contact info:

Email : info@iref.ae

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