Dammam, October 12, 2024 – His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman Alfadley, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Center of Meteorology, officially launched a series of innovative programs in Dammam today. These initiatives, part of the broader National Cloud Seeding Program, are designed to localize knowledge and integrate cutting-edge technologies into Saudi Arabia's environmental strategies. The ceremony, attended by representatives from various partner agencies, marked the inauguration of key operational projects aimed at enhancing the country’s technical and technological capabilities in cloud seeding.
During the event, the minister highlighted the program’s significant achievements since it first became operational in 2022. Among these were the introduction of new aircraft and state-of-the-art technologies that will soon be deployed in rainmaking operations, all designed to boost the technical, technological, and human capacities of the program. These innovations form a vital part of the Kingdom’s efforts to support the "Saudi Green" and "Middle East Green" initiatives, which are geared toward achieving a sustainable environmental future.
In his address, Eng. Alfadley underscored the importance of localizing cloud seeding technology, emphasizing its role in building national expertise, ensuring the long-term sustainability of operations, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of rainmaking processes. He noted that these efforts would not only reduce operational costs but also expand coverage areas and deliver enhanced results in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The minister stressed that the localization of this technology supports Saudi Arabia's broader environmental initiatives by contributing to sustainable resource management and ecological preservation.
The National Cloud Seeding Program, which was initially launched following the Middle East Green Initiative Summit announced by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, is aimed at increasing rainfall, developing new water resources, and improving vegetation cover across the Kingdom. The program is seen as a key solution to combat climate challenges such as desertification, drought, and water scarcity. Initial operations have already begun in regions like Riyadh, Hail, and Qassim, marking the start of Saudi Arabia’s nationwide rainmaking efforts.
