Dubai South's New Rainwater Tunnel Initiative

Dubai South Receives New Rainwater Drainage Tunnel – Launch of 150 Million Dirham Project

A new, state-of-the-art rainwater drainage system is being established in the Dubai South residential district, as part of a strategic agreement worth 150 million dirhams between the Dubai Municipality and its partners. The investment aims to more effectively manage surface water, reduce flood risks, and relieve infrastructure pressure in the rapidly developing city area.

Why is this development important?

Given Dubai's unique climatic conditions – where rain is rare but can be intense – modern rainwater drainage is of utmost importance. The new secondary tunnel, which is part of the project, will provide a direct connection between the Dubai South drainage network and the Dubai Municipality's deep tunnel system via Expo Road. This connection will significantly enhance the drainage of rainwater and surface water, especially during heavy rains.

Lower costs, greater efficiency

The development will not only make drainage safer but also more economical. Thanks to the new system, construction and operational costs of pumping stations are expected to decrease by 20 percent. The planned deep tunnel will have a capacity of approximately 4 cubic meters per second, which is sufficient to handle the volume of water during extreme rainfalls.

Part of the Tasreef project

This development is part of the Tasreef project, which is the cornerstone of Dubai's long-term sustainable rainwater drainage strategy. Tasreef aims to establish a unified deep tunnel drainage system covering the entire emirate by 2033. The estimated value of the entire project is 30 billion dirhams, and it is expected to increase the existing drainage capacity by 700 percent, enabling the management of over 20 million cubic meters of water daily.

In previous phases, key works were completed in the Al Maktoum City, Expo City, and Airport District areas, proving the efficiency of the deep tunnel solution.

Towards a more livable, resilient Dubai

The infrastructure built as part of the project will significantly contribute to increasing Dubai's urban resilience, not only against weather extremes but also in alignment with the city's growth rate in the long term. The goal of the development is not only to address existing challenges but also to create a future-proof, sustainable urban environment – for the benefit of both residents and visitors.

(Source of the article: Dubai Municipality press release.)