The United Arab Emirates (UAE) pledged $544 million on Wednesday to repair the homes of Emirati families affected by last week’s historic rainfall, which triggered widespread flooding and brought the Gulf state to a standstill.
“We have learned valuable lessons from dealing with such severe rains,” remarked Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum following a cabinet meeting. He announced that ministers had allocated “two billion dirhams to address the damage to citizens’ homes.”
This announcement comes more than a week after the unprecedented downpour inundated the desert nation, transforming streets into waterways and disrupting operations at Dubai airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travelers.
“A ministerial committee has been tasked with overseeing this matter… and providing compensation in collaboration with federal and local authorities,” stated Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as the ruler of Dubai, one of the hardest-hit of the UAE’s seven emirates.
The rainfall marked the UAE’s heaviest precipitation in the past 75 years.
Sheikh Mohammed further mentioned that cabinet ministers formed a second committee to assess infrastructure damage and suggest remedies. “The severity of the situation was unprecedented, but we are a nation that learns from every challenge,” he affirmed.
Although the storm had subsided by the previous Wednesday, Dubai continued to grapple with significant disruptions in the ensuing days, including waterlogged roads and flooded residences. Dubai airport saw 2,155 flight cancellations, 115 diversions, and only returned to full operational capacity by Tuesday.
