The National, on Climate, 22 October 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

Dubai Municipality reveals plan to keep city safe from impact of heavy rain

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.1 finding

Dubai Municipality has unveiled its new strategy to keep the emirate safe from . The authority has prepared 10 temporary water collection lakes in "strategic locations to accommodate rainwater runoff in the event of heavy rainfall and reduce pressure on the main drainage networks", Dubai Media Office reported on Thursday.

A response team of 675 people, including engineers, supervisors, administrative staff, drivers and field workers will be available round the clock to deal with any emergencies, according to the statement. "Dubai Municipality has established an integrated and proactive response system that brings together specialised teams, advanced equipment and flexible operational plans to strengthen our preparedness for the rainy season," said Eng Adel Mohammed Al Marzouqi, chief executive 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.

"Our priority is to ensure that infrastructure and emergency resources are ready to respond effectively to changing weather conditions, manage rainwater accumulation and address reports according to their urgency and the requirements of each location. "These preparations are supported by continuous monitoring, preventive maintenance and close coordination with our strategic partners. Through this approach, we aim to safeguard people and property, maintain the continuity of services and minimise disruption to everyday life across Dubai."

Earlier this month, The National reported how Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity is set to increase sevenfold under a Dh30 billion infrastructure project designed to protect the emirate from extreme weather and serve its growing population for the next century.

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What we found (1)

The National reports Dubai Municipality's plans for heavy rain: 10 temporary collection lakes, a 675-strong response team and a Dh30 billion drainage upgrade. It says the city faces heavy flooding from excessive rainfall and extreme weather, but never tells the reader that warming is making such downpours heavier and more frequent.

  1. Leaves out the climate link

    Minor

    “heavy flooding caused by <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/04/18/uae-drivers-abandon-waterlogged-vehicles-amid-record-rainfall/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/04/18/uae-drivers-abandon-waterlogged-vehicles-amid-record-rainfall/">excessive rainfall</a>”

    Why this matters
    The National presents heavy flooding from excessive rainfall as the threat the city is preparing for. It links back to its report of the record rainfall of April 2024 and later speaks of protecting the emirate "from extreme weather", but it never says why such rain is becoming a bigger risk.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes heavy rain in Dubai as a natural hazard of the rainy season with no wider cause, and sees the new lakes and drainage as routine seasonal planning.
    The context
    Human-caused warming has made heavy rainfall more frequent and more intense. The article contains no word on climate or warming, so the reader is not told why Dubai is spending billions to expand its drainage sevenfold.

    How we know

    • On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
    • Elsewhere in the article“designed to protect the emirate from extreme weather”
    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “climate” and “warming”.

    Show it in the article

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