Dubai Marks 14 Flood-Prone Areas and Plans for Future Disasters

Fourteen places in Dubai have been found to be vulnerable to flooding, particularly after strong storms like the unexpected April heavy rain.

Three sites along Sheikh Zayed Road, two along Al Khail Road, and four along Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road fall under risk. On Emirates Road, Seih Al Salam Street, Ras Al Khor Street, and Al Rabat Street, there were also noticed other flood-prone areas. Dubai officials hope to use preemptive actions based on identifying these sensitive areas to shield infrastructure and populations from the effects of natural disasters.

Part of a larger initiative covered at a conference on "Crisis and Natural Disaster Management" held by Dubai Police, the designation of these high-risk regions coincided with This conference focused on Dubai's dedication to disaster preparedness, particularly in terms of handling hazards related to significant rains.

Director of Corporate Risk Management and Business Continuity Mohammed Al Dhanhani of Dubai Municipality offered analysis of the city's strategy after the past rainy season. Al Dhanhani said the municipality had started long-term and short-term initiatives meant especially to control and reduce rainwater buildup in important places. He said that 90% of the sites found to be flood-prone have been improved since the last heavy rain, suggesting development in readiness for next natural disasters.

Apart from the fourteen known hotspots, Muhannad Khalid Al Muhairi, Director of the Commercial Transport Activities Department at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), pointed out that officials have found another twenty-two sites that also suffer during heavy rain outside the fourteen known hotspots. Working together, Dubai Municipality and the RTA are addressing problems by putting ideas like building pumps to direct rainfall into approved drainage systems into effect.

Attended by several officials offering thoughts and recommendations to improve Dubai's crisis management capacity, the seminar featured a press conference. Among the projects underlined was the recently started "Tasreef," declared by UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. Computed to be around Dh30 billion, this enormous rainwater drainage network project is expected to be finished by 2033 Once operational, this network is supposed to greatly increase Dubai's capacity to control rainwater, therefore lowering the future flooding danger.

Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan bin Tamim of Dubai suggested forming a committee comprising representatives of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Municipality, and the RTA. He advised this committee to create quick and thorough plans for controlling heavy rain and stopping floods. Dhahi underlined the requirement of qualified committee leadership to guarantee effective crisis management.

Dhahi suggested the establishment of a single, consistent contact number for questions connected to crises. Residents may now call several departments—such as the police, local government, or civil defense—which could cause delays in response times. One number would simplify correspondence and guarantee that residents get the right authorities faster in case of an emergency. He also underlined the need of public knowledge and recommended community education campaigns on this one contact number to boost its efficiency.

Dhahi also underlined the need of certain tools and vehicles for law enforcement to guarantee safe mobility under a lot of rain. Rescue activities and public safety depend on this as well. He also advised closely reading meteorological forecasts to enable quick reaction to approaching storms. Authorities can lower the possibility of water buildup issues and better safeguard both persons and property by aggressively addressing these warnings.

Dhahi emphasized in his comments the need of teaching the people on disaster readiness. He argued for encouraging the practice of insuring homes and vehicles as well as guaranteeing general safety during bad storms. He pushed local authorities to create and apply improved public safety procedures for disaster events and advised learning from the methods of rainwater management used elsewhere.

By means of these synchronized initiatives, Dubai is giving proactive crisis management top priority, especially in areas prone to floods. The city wants to lessen the effects of upcoming natural catastrophes by improving infrastructure, strengthening response plans, and increasing community knowledge, thereby safeguarding its citizens and creating a more resilient, safer metropolitan setting.