Dubai builds stormwater drainage network in Al Quoz

Dubai Municipality has completed the first phase of a sewer and stormwater network in Al Quoz Creative Zone, a former industrial area close to Sheikh Zayed Road.

The initial phase comprises the construction of sewerage and stormwater drainage covering 155 hectares and 123 plots at a cost of AED250 million ($68 million), the state-run Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

The first phase included 15km of sewerage networks and 14km of stormwater drainage.

The total project serves Al Quoz industrial areas 1-4, as well as the area located between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, covering 1,600 hectares and more than 1,507 plots. The total project is expected to cost AED500 million.

The phase is part of a AED30 billion sewerage development plan that Dubai Municipality says is “the largest unified stormwater collection system in the region and designed to increase drainage capacity by 700 percent for the next 100 years”.

The Al Quoz project will enhance the efficiency, resilience and operational readiness of the emirate’s infrastructure systems to face various future climatic conditions, director-general Marwan bin Ghalita said.

In February, Dubai awarded AED2.5 billion in contracts for five projects to expand and strengthen the emirate’s stormwater drainage network. This followed the emirate’s award of AED1.4 billion in projects in April 2025.

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Hannover Re, the world’s third-largest reinsurer, booked losses of €138 million ($150 million) from Dubai’s record flooding in April 2024, AGBI reported last year.

The rare Gulf storm dumped more rain on Dubai in a single day than the city typically receives in a year. Neighbouring Oman was also affected.

In February 2025 Abu Dhabi invited companies to bid for stormwater drainage and flood-mitigation projects.