UAE puts up 2 billion dirhams to pay for flood-damaged homes

Reuters/Amr Alfiky

• Payments to go to UAE citizens
• Cabinet committee formed to assess damage
• Parts of Dubai still under water

The UAE has pledged AED2 billion ($545 million) to help rebuild homes of citizens that were damaged in this month’s floods.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the UAE’s cabinet of ministers had also formed a committee to assess the flood damage.

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In specifying citizens’ homes, the announcement implies that foreign homeowners in the UAE will not be eligible for state compensation. Nearly 90 percent of the country’s population are expatriates, according to the CIA Factbook, which cites UN data.

The UAE cabinet’s newly formed committee will propose solutions at the state level under the auspices of the energy and infrastructure ministry, Sheikh Mohammed wrote.

• UAE insurers face ‘very severe’ impact from floods

• Crown Prince tells developers to pay for Dubai flood clean-up

• UAE president orders review after flooding

He added that the defence and interior ministries would also participate, as would emergency agencies and other bodies at a federal and emirate level.

The National Centre of Meteorology said that 254mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours in the Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain, more than the UAE’s average yearly rainfall of 140 to 200mm.

Some parts of Dubai remain under water almost a week on, despite a massive clean-up operation.

The UAE president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has launched an urgent review of the country’s infrastructure.

Government of Dubai Media Office

On Monday, Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ordered the emirate’s property developers to bring “normalcy” back to communities devastated by the flooding, at no additional charge to tenants.

Most major Dubai developers including Emaar Properties, Nakheel and Dubai Properties, are ultimately controlled by the emirate’s government or ruling family members. Emaar had already announced free repairs for residents in its communities.

As part of Dubai Economic Agenda D33, last week Sheikh Hamdan unveiled an AED80 billion sewerage system.

In 2021 work was completed on a $2.5 billion deep tunnel storm water system. The 10km tunnel drains stormwater from 40 percent of the city and is part of the UAE’s wider investment plan.