Dubai Invests Dh3 Billion in Major Stormwater Drainage Expansion to Boost Capacity by 700%

Dubai Municipality has awarded four contracts totaling Dh3 billion to significantly expand the emirate’s stormwater drainage network. This initiative is a key component of a larger project designed to increase rainwater drainage capacity by an impressive 700 percent by the year 2033.

The project is part of the third phase of the Dh30 billion Tasreef programme. It will involve the construction and extension of 100 kilometers of main drainage lines, some with diameters reaching up to three meters. The scope of work will encompass 100 square kilometers across vital residential, commercial, industrial, and tourism zones, including areas such as Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Al Safa, Al Manara, Al Quoz, Al Barsha, Al Wasl, Zabeel, Al Bada’a, Al Satwa, and Al Marmoom.

This undertaking underscores Dubai's ongoing commitment to enhancing infrastructure resilience and preparing for future climate challenges, while also accommodating the city's continuous urban expansion. Marwan bin Ghalita, director general of Dubai Municipality, stated earlier this month, “Dubai did not simply stop to assess the damage or look for solutions. It took a swift and bold decision to begin a drainage programme designed to serve the city for the next 100 years.”

The Tasreef scheme was initiated in 2024, following widespread flooding experienced across the UAE due to unprecedented rainfall in April of that year. Recent infrastructure developments include the completion of a Dh277 million sewerage and rainwater drainage network in Nad Al Sheba in June 2025, and the finalization of the drainage network in Al Quoz Creative Zone in April of this year.

The broader Tasreef programme aims to increase Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity sevenfold, enabling the system to manage over 20 million cubic meters of water daily upon completion. The project is slated for completion in 2033 and is engineered to address the emirate’s drainage requirements for the next century. Authorities have prioritized a long-term infrastructure upgrade over solely addressing immediate damage, thereby boosting the emirate’s preparedness for extreme weather events. Earlier this week, the municipality also announced the preparation of 10 temporary water collection lakes in strategic locations to manage rainwater runoff during heavy rainfall and alleviate pressure on the main drainage networks.