Dubai invests $408 million in major stormwater drainage projects to boost climate resilience

Dubai Municipality has awarded contracts valued at Dh1.439 billion (US$408 million) for four large-scale stormwater infrastructure projects under the umbrella of the ‘Tasreef’ initiative. Scheduled for completion by 2027, these projects aim to enhance, expand, and future-proof the city’s drainage systems.

The contracts were awarded following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish strategic infrastructure that meets future needs.

These developments are part of Dubai’s wider mission to strengthen its sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, furthering its goal to be among the most infrastructure-ready cities globally.

Expanding the Tasreef Network

The newly announced projects are part of the Tasreef initiative, Dubai’s most extensive and operationally efficient unified stormwater collection system. The areas to benefit from the upcoming works include Nad Al Hamar, the vicinity of Dubai International Airport, Al Garhoud, Al Rashidiya, Al Quoz, Zabeel, Al Wasl, Jumeirah, and Al Badaa.

The scope includes the construction of more than 36 kilometres of new drainage lines, which will feed into the main Tasreef tunnel. This expansion will eventually link the emirate’s drainage systems into a single, unified network. The upgrades are expected to significantly boost the system’s total drainage capacity, cut down maintenance and operational expenses, and deliver improved service quality for residents and businesses alike.

A vision for the future

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, emphasized the importance of these developments in realizing the broader Tasreef vision.

“These efforts aim to enhance the capacity of the drainage system and increase its discharge capacity by 700% over the next 100 years, solidifying the emirate’s leadership among the world’s most advanced and resilient cities in terms of infrastructure,” he stated.

The newly launched projects represent a crucial step toward building scalable and innovative solutions that address future urban challenges and strengthen Dubai’s resilience against extreme weather events.