Dubai Awards USD 408 Million for Major Stormwater Upgrade

Dubai Municipality has awarded contracts worth AED 1.5 billion (approximately USD 408 million) for a large-scale upgrade of the city’s stormwater drainage infrastructure. The development is part of the long-term Tasreef initiative, which aims to fortify the emirate against climate-related flood risks by modernising and expanding its stormwater management systems.

The newly announced phase will see the installation of over 36 kilometres of stormwater pipelines across several high-density neighbourhoods, including Al Garhoud, Al Rashidiya, Nad Al Hamar, Jumeirah, and Al Quoz. These new networks will feed into a central stormwater tunnel system that has been under phased construction since the Tasreef programme began.

According to Dubai Municipality, the expansion is expected to increase the city’s drainage capacity by 700% over the next century, with the goal of significantly reducing the risk of flood-related disruption caused by heavy rainfall events.

The Tasreef initiative, launched in 2019, is the largest integrated stormwater project in the region and one of the biggest of its kind globally. It is designed to evolve over several decades in coordination with Dubai’s broader urban development plans. The initiative also supports the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan by helping ensure that vital services can keep pace with the city’s projected growth.

Construction is already underway on other phases of the Tasreef tunnel, including the 10-kilometre deepwater drainage line that will serve Dubai South and Al Maktoum International Airport. Once complete, the system will be able to manage runoff from 40% of the emirate’s total urban area.