Dh2.5 billion Dubai drainage project to tackle flood threat

Dubai Municipality announces new system will be operational by September

A municipal worker drains flood waters close to Ibn Battuta and Discovery Gardens on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

Signs were blown down across the city. Ruel Pableo for The National

A driver tries to drain water from his car near Ibn Battuta mall. Ruel Pableo for The National

An abandoned car sits in flood water near the low-lying Discovery Gardens, one of the worst-hit areas. Ruel Pableo for The National

Drivers were caught out by sudden downpours for a third day in a row on Sunday, with many getting stuck. Ruel Pableo for The National

Motorists appear to have abandoned their vehicles in this image from Ibn Battuta. Ruel Pableo for The National

A rainbow appears among the clouds in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National

Cloudy weather once again around the Corniche area in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

High winds caused damage to many buildings, including this one in Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club area. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Dark clouds over the skyline of Dubai with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. AFP

The sign for Last Exit food truck park in Jebel Ali was torn by high winds. Ruel Pableo for The National

So was this advert for Nakheel properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Torn billboards flutter in high winds on Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

The low-lying Jebel Ali area is particularly badly hit. Ruel Pableo for The National

Flooding at a car park by lorries and buses in Jebel Ali on Sunday morning. Ruel Pableo for The National

Municipality workers use a pump at a waterlogged road in Internet City on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

Roads around Internet City were waterlogged after a fresh downpour about 7.30am on Sunday. Ruel Pableo

Commuters head to work through Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo for The National

A municipality worker clearing debris in Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo foir The National

Rain clouds loom over the road to Abu Dhabi at 7am on Sunday morning. Commuters were hit with patches of driving rain from about 8am. Suhail Rather / The National

Municipal workers attempt to clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality

The National Center for Search and Rescue said the first rescue mission took place on Saturday morning when they received a report about two men being trapped due to flash floods in Wadi Ghashabah. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to the site where the two men, of Sudanese nationality, were found clinging to a tree about 50 meters away from the Wadi banks. The rescue team managed to airlift the men and take them to safety. Courtesy NSRC

Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Overcast skies over Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National

Heavy rains in Dubai during the night caused extensive flooding at intersections within the city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National

Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National

Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National

A car drives through a waterlogged road near Al Bateen airport. Scott Walker

A delivery van struggles to navigate flood waters near Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi on Saturday about 9am. Courtesy: Scott Walker

A man sweeps water from the running track along Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National

Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National

Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National

A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

A waiter at Burts in The Greens sweeps away some water to get ready for the business day. Antonie Robertson/The National

Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Barsha Heights. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Greens saw heavy rain that left the streets wet. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National

A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

Parking areas in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai were inundated with water and residents raced to get their cars to safer spots following heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday. Courtesy: Antonie Abreu

Flooding in Discovery Gardens. Courtesy: Antonio Abreu

A deep water drainage tunnel set to help Dubai combat the threat of flooding for decades to come is due be brought into operation by September, officials said.

Dubai Municipality posted a short video on Instagram, revealing that the city’s new rainwater relief project is now 75 per cent complete.

So far, 10 million man hours have been pumped into the tunnelling and construction process that promises to alleviate some of flooding issues around the emirate’s roads and communities.

The Dh2.5-billion subterranean construction cannot come soon enough.

Storms that swept into the UAE last week caused widespread damage and disruption to scores of communities, as families were forced to abandon homes while roads were brought to a standstill by flooding.

Authorities sprung into action to mount a major clean-up operation after the damaging downpours.

The fierce storms lashing the emirate also caused major travel disruption, with roads closed and many flights delayed or cancelled because of heavy rainfall at Dubai International Airport.

An army of more than 3,000 Dubai Municipality staff worked tirelessly to drain water from affected areas across the emirate.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority had a 600-strong team working round the clock to clear up waterlogged roads before the early-morning commute.

It is hoped the new drainage system will mitigate the effects of flooding – and ensure less resources and manpower is needed in the future.

Once complete, the drainage system will serve an area of 490 square kilometres.

With climate change a key concern in infrastructure planning, it is hoped the tunnel will solve Dubai's flooding issues for the next century.

There are about 60 rainwater pumping stations along Dubai's 1.75 million metre network of pipework and drainage tunnels, with 28,000 connected inspection chambers.

About 72,000 drainage holes allow excess water to flow out to sea or into Dubai Creek via the network's 28 outlets.

Flood relief measures have come under intense pressure in recent weeks after repeated storms battered the UAE, with more rain forecast at the end of this week.

Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, the fourth international rain enhancement forum got under way to look at new ways to preserve and enhance rainwater when it arrives.

Organised in partnership with the National Centre of Meteorology, the meeting aims to share the latest ideas and technologies to aid water security in arid and semi-arid regions like the UAE.

“The UAE seeks to demonstrate its pioneering efforts in engaging with the international community to address critical water security issues through cloud seeding,” said Dr Abdulla Al Mandous, NCM director.

“Rain enhancement research has emerged as an important scientific discipline due to its vital role in addressing water stress.”

The forum discussed the use of artificial intelligence to predict meteorological events and unmanned aerial vehicles for cloud seeding operations.