Dubai's 30 Billion Dirham Project to Increase Rainwater Drainage Capacity by Seven Times

Following the unprecedented rainfall in April 2024 that caused widespread flooding in parts of the UAE, Dubai decided to strengthen its infrastructure to cope with heavy rainfall in the long term instead of merely repairing damages.

Now, the "Tasreef" project, with a budget of 30 billion dirhams, is set to increase Dubai's rainwater drainage capacity sevenfold, allowing the new network to drain over 20 million cubic meters of water daily.

According to plans announced by the Dubai Municipality, this project will include over 6,500 kilometers of rainwater drainage network and over 5,000 kilometers of sewage network. The goal is to prepare the city's infrastructure for the growing population and severe weather conditions over the next 100 years.

The Tasreef project, which is expected to be completed in 2033, is a continuation of drainage network development plans that began in 2019 in areas such as Expo City Dubai, Al Maktoum International Airport, and Jebel Ali.

Areas such as Nad Al Hamar, around Dubai International Airport, Al Qusais, Al Rashidiya, Al Quoz, Zabeel, Al Wasl, Jumeirah, and Al Bada'a are also included in the development plans for this infrastructure.

Previously, in June 2025, the Dubai Municipality completed the sewage and rainwater drainage network in Nad Al Sheba at a cost of 277 million dirhams. The drainage network in the Al Quoz Creative Zone was also completed in April 2026.

3.5 Million Trees and More Green Spaces by 2040

Dubai's plans are not limited to technical infrastructure. The municipality intends to plant 3.5 million trees by 2040 and increase the area of green spaces and cultivated land to 187 square kilometers.

Alongside the development of parks and public spaces for walking, sports, and recreation, the annual visits to the city's parks are expected to reach 95 million.

Artificial Intelligence and Robots in Dubai's Urban Services

The Dubai Municipality is also developing smart systems for city management, including the use of robots and autonomous vehicles for urban cleaning in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The development of a digital version of the city for monitoring operations using real-time data, employing modern construction methods, and implementing waste management strategies by 2040 aimed at converting waste into energy is also part of these plans.

In the field of food safety, the municipality's teams inspect over 577,000 food shipments annually, covering approximately 2.706 billion food products. The use of digital tools and artificial intelligence, including the "DM Check" and "Montaji" systems, is also on the agenda to enhance the accuracy and speed of food safety monitoring.

According to the Director General of the Dubai Municipality, the ultimate goal of these programs is to create a city with advanced and smart infrastructure that can adapt to population growth and future challenges.
Source: The National News