The key facts
- Dubai Municipality has prepared 10 temporary lakes to collect stormwater in strategic locations
- The 24-hour response team numbers 675 people: engineers, supervisors, administrative staff, drivers and field workers
- It was previously reported that a project worth 30 billion dirhams will increase the drainage network's capacity sevenfold
Rainy season preparedness plan
Dubai Municipality has presented a new strategy to protect the emirate from flooding caused by heavy rainfall. As Dubai Media Office reported on Thursday, October 22, 10 temporary lakes have been prepared to collect water in 'strategic locations' in order to receive stormwater runoff during heavy rains and reduce the load on the main drainage networks.
24-hour response team
A response team of 675 people — engineers, supervisors, administrative staff, drivers and field workers — is ready for work and will be available around the clock to act in emergency situations.
Municipality comment
'Dubai Municipality has created an integrated and proactive response system that combines specialised teams, modern equipment and flexible operational plans to strengthen readiness for the rainy season,' said chief engineer Adel Mohammed Al-Marzouqi, head of the Waste Management and Sewerage Agency at Dubai Municipality, head of the emergency, crisis and disaster management team and the rainwater drainage team. According to him, the priorities are the readiness of infrastructure and emergency resources for changing weather conditions, managing rainwater accumulation, and handling reports according to the urgency and requirements of each location. The preparations are supported by continuous monitoring, preventive maintenance and close coordination with strategic partners; the goal is to protect people and property, ensure continuity of services and minimise disruptions to daily life.
Context: a large-scale drainage project
Earlier in October, The National reported that the capacity of Dubai's drainage network will increase sevenfold under an infrastructure project worth 30 billion dirhams, designed to protect the emirate from extreme weather and serve a growing population over the next century. It was also previously reported that a drainage network worth 277 million dirhams had been completed.
