The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has integrated two agentic AI assistants, Al Rasid and Forecaster Assistant, into its live operations, marking a significant step in the use of AI for weather prediction. The Abu Dhabi-based authority has moved beyond the pilot stage, deploying the technology directly into its forecasting centres to improve response times and analytical accuracy, positioning the UAE as a global frontrunner in applying agentic AI to meteorology.
Quick Facts
- Two agentic AI assistants now operational.
- Aims to speed up and sharpen weather analysis.
- Final forecasting decisions remain with human experts.
- Part of a wider federal government AI strategy.
How Al Rasid and Forecaster Assistant Work
The two AI agents are designed to handle distinct, high-volume data tasks. Al Rasid operates continuously, monitoring data feeds from the NCM’s network of weather stations, radars, satellites, and seismic and air quality sensors. It automatically generates real-time visual alerts when specific thresholds are met and produces daily national weather briefings.
Forecaster Assistant focuses on the predictive side. It analyzes and compares outputs from multiple global numerical weather models, identifies discrepancies, and drafts initial weather and marine bulletins. The system also builds a hazard dashboard to flag potential risks in the days ahead for human review.
A Human-in-the-Loop Approach
Despite the advanced capabilities of the AI, the NCM emphasized that the technology is built to support, not replace, its specialists.
NCM Director General Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, who is also the President of the World Meteorological Organisation, confirmed that experts retain final authority over all decisions. All AI-generated outputs undergo a thorough review and approval process by qualified meteorologists before being published, adhering to international AI governance standards.
The system operates on a governance framework that includes data protection, explainability of AI outputs, and full traceability of decisions.
A Test Case for Federal AI Adoption
This deployment is an early and practical example of the UAE’s wider federal ambition to embed agentic AI across government operations. An initiative announced in April aims to integrate this technology across 50 percent of government sectors and services.
The NCM’s launch serves as a test case for this national strategy, which assesses government ministers and entity heads on the speed of their AI adoption. The goal is to shift government functions from digital transformation to more autonomous, intelligence-driven operations. The NCM also has a roadmap to expand the use of agentic AI into climate services, aviation meteorology, seismology, and air quality monitoring.
About the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM)
The National Centre of Meteorology is the UAE’s official authority for meteorological services, seismology, and cloud seeding. Based in Abu Dhabi, the NCM is responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather conditions, issuing warnings, and conducting atmospheric research to support various sectors across the country.
Source: Middle East AI News
