Rabat – Following last week’s unprecedented rainfall that brought widespread flooding to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Emirati government has announced a significant financial allocation to address the damages.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum announced on Wednesday a commitment of $544 million towards repairing the homes of Emirati families affected by the heavy rain.
“We learned great lessons in dealing with severe rains,” the minister said.
The decision came after a cabinet meeting where ministers approved the financial allocation to mitigate the aftermath of the natural disaster.
The heavy rains, described as the gulf country’s heaviest in 75 years, caused massive destruction and chaos.
The strong rainfall caused significant damage to infrastructure, including Dubai International Airport, where flights were disrupted and passengers were left stranded stranded.
Online images showed flooded homes and streets, submerged vehicles, and damaged infrastructure.
Oman also bore the brunt of the heavy rain, with reports of at least 20 people losing their lives due to the floods.
At least four fatalities have been reported in the UAE, although an official toll has not been released by UAE authorities, AFP reported.
The Emirati government formed ministerial committees tasked with managing compensation for affected citizens and assessing infrastructure damage.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the need for efficient crisis management and acknowledged deficiencies in services during the ordeal.
With 254.8 millimeters falling in under 24 hours, last week’s rains far surpassed the region’s average annual rainfall.
Rain is relatively uncommon in the UAE due to the country’s arid climate. The Gulf country typically experiences very low rainfall throughout the year, with most of it occurring during the winter months between December and March.
