Dubai Municipality has signed a strategic partnership with Dubai South to develop an advanced stormwater drainage system, valued at AED150 million ($41 million). The new system will serve the Dubai South residential district and aligns with Dubai’s broader Tasreef project, a long-term initiative aimed at building future-ready infrastructure.
As part of the agreement, a new secondary stormwater tunnel will be constructed. This tunnel will connect Dubai South’s drainage network to Dubai Municipality’s deep tunnel system via Expo Road, greatly improving the management of stormwater and surface runoff.
Enhancing Safety, Sustainability, and Urban Planning
By expanding the drainage network, the project aims to reduce flooding risks, protect public and private assets, and increase urban sustainability. It supports the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure to meet the needs of the emirate’s growing population.
Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said:
“Developing stormwater drainage remains one of Dubai Municipality’s strategic priorities. This project reflects our integrated approach to surface water management and reinforces our commitment to a unified deep tunnel network across the emirate.”
He added that the initiative falls under the Tasreef programme, the largest of its kind in the region, designed to support stormwater management for the next 100 years. “With Dubai South, we aim to position the emirate as a global model of sustainability and urban excellence,” he noted.
Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, also commented:
“This agreement marks a key milestone in our strategy to offer a resilient and integrated urban environment. It reflects our forward-looking infrastructure approach to accommodate up to one million residents in Dubai South.”
He reiterated that sustainable development requires anticipation of future needs, and this partnership ensures that Dubai South will remain a model for safe and comfortable living.
Part of the AED30 Billion Tasreef Programme
The stormwater drainage project is a component of Tasreef, a Dubai Municipality-led initiative valued at AED30 billion ($8.2 billion). Scheduled for completion by 2033, Tasreef will expand coverage across the entire emirate and increase the drainage system’s capacity by 700%, enabling it to manage more than 20 million cubic metres of water daily.
The project is expected to cut construction and operational costs for pumping stations by 20%. It also includes deep tunnel infrastructure with a flow rate capacity of approximately 4 cubic metres per second.
In earlier phases, Dubai Municipality completed tunnel infrastructure in Al Maktoum City, including Expo City and the Airport District, significantly boosting groundwater and stormwater resilience.
