Dubai Municipality has put a 675-strong emergency team on 24-hour standby to manage rainwater accumulation, respond to incidents and maintain public services through the coming rainy season.
The team, comprising engineers, supervisors, field workers and drivers, is backed by approximately 1,100 pieces of specialised equipment and machinery.
As part of its infrastructure preparations, the municipality has cleaned more than 70,000 drainage inlets across Dubai and readied 10 temporary water collection lakes in strategic locations to relieve pressure on main drainage networks during heavy rainfall.
Preventive inspections of stormwater infrastructure, including gravity pipelines and network components, have been intensified ahead of the season, and wastewater treatment plants have drawn up flexible operational plans that allow water flows to be diverted when needed.
Where the municipality’s own capacity is insufficient, private sector companies have been contracted for additional water removal and transport support.
Eng. Adel Mohammed Al Marzouqi, CEO of the Waste and Sewerage Agency and head of the emirate’s Rainwater Drainage Team, said the municipality had also learned from previous weather events.
“Dubai Municipality has established an integrated and proactive response system that brings together specialised teams, advanced equipment and flexible operational plans to strengthen our preparedness for the rainy season. Our priority is to ensure that infrastructure and emergency resources are ready to respond effectively to changing weather conditions, manage rainwater accumulation and address reports according to their urgency and the requirements of each location. These preparations are supported by continuous monitoring, preventive maintenance and close coordination with our strategic partners. Through this approach, we aim to safeguard people and property, maintain the continuity of services and minimise disruption to everyday life across Dubai,” Al Marzouqi said in a statement.
The municipality’s Command and Control Centre is coordinating in real time with Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Civil Defence and the Dubai Resilience Centre, all under the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management.
Public health preparations are also in place. The municipality has deployed mosquito traps, manual spraying devices and thermal fogging units in areas identified as likely breeding sites, citing the risk that standing water poses after rainfall.
Residents and property owners are advised to check that home drainage systems and non-return valves in basement buildings are functioning properly. Rainwater accumulation can be reported through the Dubai Municipality Contact Centre on 800900 or via its official WhatsApp service.
