Dubai has announced an investment of 30 billion dirhams ($8.2 billion) to upgrade its rainwater drainage system in response to the heaviest downpours recorded in the UAE in 75 years.
This move comes after April’s unprecedented rainfall brought the city to a standstill, causing significant damage to roads, businesses, homes, and severely impacting operations at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest.
The weather resulted in four fatalities and has intensified concerns regarding Dubai’s preparedness for future extreme weather events. Climate researchers predict that climate change will bring increased temperatures, higher humidity, and greater flooding risks to the Gulf region, necessitating innovative solutions to mitigate these effects.
The ambitious project, codenamed “Tasreef,” aims to be completed by 2033. It will span the entire emirate, enhancing its capability to handle future climate challenges and cater to the city’s needs for the next century.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, emphasized the project’s role in ensuring Dubai’s resilience against climate-related adversities, Reuters news report said.
Once completed, the upgraded infrastructure will boost the capacity of Dubai’s rainwater drainage system by 700 percent, enabling it to manage over 20 million cubic meters of water per day. This will position it as one of the largest rainwater collection systems in the region, according to Dubai’s media office.
The “Tasreef” project builds upon earlier drainage initiatives launched in 2019, focusing on the southern areas of the emirate, including Expo, Jebel Ali, and Al Maktoum International Airport City. The latter is poised to become the world’s largest airport, with a capacity of up to 260 million passengers — five times that of Dubai International Airport.
This investment underscores Dubai’s proactive approach to addressing the impacts of climate change and ensuring the sustainability and resilience of its infrastructure and economy.
GreentechLead.com News Desk