Dubai Launches Ambitious Dhs30 Billion Drainage Network Enhancement Project
Dubai is setting the stage for a monumental upgrade to its drainage infrastructure with the initiation of the Tasreef project, approved in June this year by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, as well as the Ruler of Dubai. This transformative project comes with a staggering budget of Dhs30 billion.
The primary goal of the Tasreef project is to significantly enhance the city’s drainage capacity by an impressive 700 percent. This enhancement is critical to ensuring that Dubai is well-prepared to face climate-related challenges over the next century. The innovative drainage system will feature extensive underground tunnels capable of channeling a remarkable 20 million cubic meters of water daily—an extraordinary feat for any urban area.
Utilizing advanced gravity-driven tunnels means that large volumes of water can flow without the need for pumps, which in turn will lead to reduced operational and maintenance expenses. The Dubai Media Office shared this news, highlighting the project’s importance in improving the city’s resilience to heavy rainfall and flooding.
Work on this ambitious project will utilize state-of-the-art tunneling equipment, marking it as one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in the UAE to date. The network will extend to key locations including Expo Dubai, Jebel Ali, and Al Maktoum International Airport City. The Tasreef project aims to interlink all areas within the city, creating a cohesive drainage system that efficiently directs stormwater into the sea.
Expected to take nearly a decade to complete, the entire project is slated for finalization by 2033. In discussing the project, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized, “Covering all areas of Dubai, the project will elevate the drainage network’s capacity to more than 20 million cubic meters of water daily, addressing our needs for the next hundred years.” He further noted the urgency of the project, stating, “We have directed the immediate implementation of the project, which will be completed in phases by 2033. Dubai continues to drive infrastructure and urban advancements, enhancing safety and security for everyone residing in the emirate.”
Recent Flooding Challenges in Dubai
In April, Dubai experienced its most severe storm on record, leading to significant flooding across various parts of the city. According to the National Centre of Meteorology, the rainfall recorded was the highest the emirates have experienced in 75 years. Given that the UAE was established in 1971, this event marks a historic moment in the nation’s meteorological history.
The storm prompted the closure of schools and encouraged both public and private sector employees to work from home. Additionally, Dubai International Airport faced extensive flooding, resulting in widespread flight disruptions.
Having received more than a year’s worth of rainfall within just 24 hours, the emirate launched a massive cleanup operation. However, the ramifications were felt long after the storm, with some public transport routes and several stations on the Dubai Metro line remaining closed for weeks due to necessary repairs. Notably, stations on the red line, including Equiti, Energy, Al Mashreq, and ONPASSIVE, were temporarily shut down due to the severe flooding. Fortunately, ONPASSIVE, Equiti, and Mashreq reopened by May 19, while Energy resumed operations on May 25.
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