The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a $544 million (2 billion dirhams) allocation to repair homes damaged by last week’s record-breaking rains that caused widespread flooding and brought the oil-rich Gulf state to a standstill.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum following a cabinet meeting.
The UAE experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, turning streets into rivers and severely disrupting daily life.
The deluge led to the closure of Dubai airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, and resulted in significant damage to infrastructure and homes across the country.
“A ministerial committee was assigned to follow up on this file… and disburse compensation in cooperation with the rest of the federal and local authorities,” said Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Dubai, one of the worst-hit emirates.
The unprecedented storm claimed at least four lives, including three Filipino workers and one Emirati citizen.
While UAE authorities have not released an official death toll, the government has taken immediate action to address the aftermath of the disaster.
In addition to the fund for home repairs, the cabinet ministers formed a second committee to assess infrastructure damage and propose solutions.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of learning from the unprecedented event to improve crisis management and response strategies in the future.
Despite the storm subsiding last Wednesday, Dubai, known for its glam and luxury, faced severe disruption with water-clogged roads and flooded homes.
Dubai airport cancelled 2,155 flights, diverted 115, and returned to full capacity only on Tuesday.
Climatologist Friederike Otto, a specialist in assessing the role of global warming on extreme weather events, told AFP that it was “highly likely” that human-caused climate change made the rainfall “heavier.”
This perspective adds urgency to global efforts to address climate change and its impact on extreme weather events.
Prominent Emirati analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdulla criticized the government’s response, calling the deficiency in services and crisis management “unreasonable and unacceptable.”
His comments represent a rare public rebuke in a country known for its strict governance and limited public criticism.
