From constructing the world's tallest skyscraper to building its own palm-shaped islands, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is no stranger to grand projects.

UAE is planning to build an artificial mountain, that which will be large enough to change weather patterns and increase rainfall.

According to the Dubai-based publication Arabian Business, the UAE is in the early stages of evaluating how a man-made mountain could help maximize rainfall in the country, consulting with experts from the U.S.-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to study the idea.

NCAR scientist and lead researcher Roelof Bruintjes said,“What we are looking at is basically evaluating the effects on weather through the type of mountain, how high it should be and how the slopes should be. We will have a report of the first phase this summer as an initial step.”

Mountains play a vital role in influencing both regional and global weather, causing warm, moist air to rise, creating clouds and ultimately rain.

The aim is that this natural process would be forced to occur thanks to the towering man-made structure.

The clouds generated by the mountain will be the source – a weather modification process designed to maximise the amount of rain produced – to boost rainfall and control when wet weather occurs.

According to lead researcher Roelof Bruintjes, experts from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Colorado are working on a 'detailed modelling study' , at a cost of $400,000 (£276,384).