The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has conducted a unique study to prepare for the rainy season, with the aim of discovering the causes of water deviations and flooding.

The study also seeks to improve the design and implementation of a rainwater management and drainage system for exit numbers 129, 119, 103 and 110 at Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road. It also seeks to facilitate the installation of 16 drainage pipes to the underground storage basins beneath these four exits, and construct two new underground storage basins.

Ahmed Al Hammadi, Director of Roads Administration, highlighted the ministry’s desire to adopt the best international practices in infrastructure development, to meet the requirements of the UAE’s local environment, as per the directives of Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development.

Al Hammadi added that the ministry has considered rainwater density while drafting the study, and has recommended the construction of two 1,250-square metre underground storage basins at the locations of the relevant exits at Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Street, to store excess rainwater and then slowly pump them down as underground water.

He emphasised the ministry’s readiness to face any dangers from excess rainfall, as it has maintained, during previous years, 100 dams, whose lakes have a total capacity of 75,963,000-square metres. These 100 dams include 54 dams in Fujairah, 30 in Ras al-Khaimah, nine in Ajman, seven in Sharjah and one in Umm Al Qaiwain, he added.

The ministry has also restored a 166-square kilometre area, to stabilise the local sand and stop it gathering on the roads, due to the rainfall, he further added.

Al Hammadi stressed that the ministry had previously launched the "We Want You Safe" initiative, which provided a free telephone line for the public (800888890) to report damage to federal roads, as well as the "Ghaith Team" that specialises in studying and monitoring areas of flooding and finding suitable solutions.

He added that the national infrastructure had proved its efficiency while facing climate change and instability during previous years, due to its suitable design and the number of rainwater pumps and drainage systems, built according to the best international specifications.

He stressed that the ministry always applies the best international practices when planning infrastructure projects, with the aim of advancing its development system. He added that the ministry aims to create solutions to the problems caused by excessive rainfall.

The UAE’s infrastructure and operational systems are among the most advanced in the world while noting that the country, since its establishment, has been keen to develop quality and effective local infrastructure, which has led it to occupy leading positions in global competitiveness indexes in the area of infrastructure, Al Hammadi concluded.