Saudi Arabia is poised to lead the Middle East in cloud seeding as it prepares to expand its program aimed at boosting rainfall. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Deputy Environment Minister Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha discussed the kingdom’s ambitions to increase rainfall and counteract desertification. With water scarcity worsening, Saudi Arabia hopes to spearhead research and innovation in this controversial practice.
While cloud seeding has been a part of Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy for years, earlier attempts were not successful. Advances in artificial intelligence and remote sensing have since allowed the country to refine its approach. The process of cloud seeding involves injecting chemicals into clouds to cool them and induce rain, a method that has attracted interest from other nations dealing with water shortages.
Critics argue that cloud seeding could have unpredictable impacts on global ecosystems. Faqeeha acknowledged these concerns but maintained that Saudi Arabia has no choice but to explore every option. “We have to try everything possible,” he stated. As a hyper-arid country, the kingdom is particularly vulnerable to climate change and desertification.
The program’s expansion comes ahead of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the COP16 summit in December, which will focus on desertification and land degradation. The kingdom hopes to lead global discussions on innovative approaches to water scarcity and environmental conservation. As Saudi Arabia moves forward, it aims to set an example for other nations dealing with similar challenges.
