'Sponge City' Initiative Introduced in Dubai to Repurpose Rain

Dubai is set to implement the “Sponge City” urban planning model. Originally developed in China, this approach is now gaining traction across the Gulf, notably in Saudi Arabia, where infrastructure is designed to absorb and repurpose rainwater, offering an efficient way to mitigate flooding.

The City would act like a giant sponge, where the rainwater would be absorbed by green roofs, permeable sidewalks and underground collection systems, then would be redistributed into the city when needed, rather than just draining it.

During the World Governments Summit (WGS) in 2026, the Dubai municipality signed a memorandum of understanding with the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen -the city that pioneered the concept- making an important step toward bringing this project to life. This collaboration allows international cities to exchange proven strategies, translating them to new contexts and delivering smarter urban solutions.