Dubai Municipality puts 675-strong response team on standby for the rainy season
By Catherine Smith GST 3 min read
Dubai Municipality has placed a swift response team of approximately 675 personnel on round-the-clock standby for the rainy season, backed by approximately 1,100 items of specialised equipment and machinery, according to a statement issued through the Government of Dubai Media Office on 22 October 2026.
The municipality said it had activated operational and technical plans to manage rainwater accumulation, respond to emergencies and keep public services running if the anticipated rains arrive. The team includes engineers, supervisors, administrative staff, drivers and field workers, and private sector companies have been contracted to provide additional support for water removal and transportation when required.
Drains, lakes and treatment plants
On the stormwater network, preparations include cleaning more than 70,000 drainage inlets across Dubai, and the municipality has intensified inspections and maintenance of drainage inlets, gravity pipelines and other network components before and during rains.
Ten temporary water collection lakes have been readied in strategic locations to take rainwater runoff during heavy rainfall and reduce pressure on the main drainage networks. Wastewater treatment plants have flexible operational plans that allow water flows to be diverted to drainage lakes when necessary.
The municipality is also coordinating with real estate developers and free zone authorities to assess their preparedness and strengthen operational readiness across the relevant infrastructure networks.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Swift response team on 24-hour standby | About 675 personnel |
| Specialised equipment and machinery | About 1,100 items |
| Temporary water collection lakes | 10 |
| Drainage inlets cleaned | More than 70,000 |
Lessons from previous rain
Eng. Adel Mohammed Al Marzouqi, CEO of the Waste and Sewerage Agency at Dubai Municipality, Head of the Municipality’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Team, and Head of the Rainwater Drainage Team in the emirate, said the municipality had carried out a comprehensive assessment of locations affected by rainwater accumulation during previous spells of unsettled weather. The municipality said data from previous rainy spells, including emergency reports, has been analysed to inform updates to response plans and the allocation of technical and supervisory personnel. Al Marzouqi said:
“Through this approach, we aim to safeguard people and property, maintain the continuity of services and minimise disruption to everyday life across Dubai.”
The municipality’s Command and Control Centre monitors weather developments and incoming reports around the clock. It coordinates with Dubai Police General Command, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Civil Defense General Command and the Dubai Resilience Centre, under the supervision of the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai. Teams have also run weather simulation exercises and field training to test their response to heavy rainfall and flooding.
What residents and building owners can do
The municipality has advised property owners and residents to keep rainwater drains in homes and residential buildings clean and working. In buildings with basements, it asks for particular attention to internal drainage systems, including checking that non-return valves are in good condition and functioning, to help prevent water backflow.
Standing water left after rain may lead to the proliferation of mosquitoes. The municipality said it is running insect surveillance in areas identified as potential breeding sites, using mosquito traps, manual spraying devices, thermal fogging devices and sample-testing units.
Rainwater accumulation and related emergencies can be reported to the Dubai Municipality Contact Centre on 800900, or through the municipality’s official WhatsApp service, which uses the same 800900 number. The municipality has asked residents and visitors to follow official weather alerts and to comply with public safety instructions from the relevant authorities. Weather warnings and bulletins are published by the National Center of Meteorology.
