The United Arab Emirates has announced a $544 million fund to repair homes damaged by last week’s record-breaking rains, which caused severe flooding and disrupted daily life across the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum revealed this decision following a cabinet meeting, stating that the government has approved “two billion dirhams” to address the extensive damage to citizens’ homes.
The announcement follows an unprecedented storm that hit the UAE, turning streets into rivers and severely affecting Dubai Airport, the world’s busiest for international travelers. Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Dubai, noted that a ministerial committee will oversee compensation efforts in collaboration with federal and local authorities. Dubai, one of the seven emirates, was particularly hard-hit by the severe weather.
The torrential rains, the heaviest recorded in the UAE in 75 years, resulted in at least four fatalities, including three Filipino workers and one Emirati. UAE authorities have yet to provide an official death toll. In response, the cabinet has also set up a second committee to assess infrastructure damage and propose necessary repairs.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that while the situation was unprecedented, the country is committed to learning from every experience. Climatologist Friederike Otto suggested that human-induced climate change likely intensified the rainfall.
The storm initially struck Oman on April 14, resulting in at least 21 deaths. It then hit the UAE, delivering up to two years’ worth of rain, which led to severe flooding in Dubai and significant disruptions at the airport, where 2,155 flights were canceled and 115 were diverted. Services at Dubai Airport did not fully recover until the following Tuesday.
Emirati analyst Abdulkhaleq Abdulla criticized the government’s response as inadequate and called for improvements in crisis management. Despite these challenges, Dubai’s public transport and major roads have returned to normal. However, some residents, like 56-year-old Brit Matthew Faddy, are still dealing with the aftermath. Faddy, whose ground-floor apartment was flooded, noted that while water levels have decreased, full recovery will take additional time.
