In the last week of April, visitors to Dubai’s famous Mall of the Emirates were confronted with an unusual sight: the iconic artificial ski slope was silent and deserted.
Despite the bustling activity within the shopping center, the strange stillness of the snow dome hinted at underlying troubles, as a recent deluge wreaked havoc on the city’s infrastructure, disrupting power to cool the slope.
Following historically intense rainfall in the United Arab Emirates, streets surrounding the pristine mall were submerged under water, with abandoned cars, including a Porsche Carrera, scattered along the inundated roads.
Meanwhile, local residents, grappling with power outages and water shortages, sought refuge near the mall’s power sockets and made use of its public facilities.
This disruption, in the aftermath of the dramatic storm that caused flash flooding across the oil-rich nation, underscored the growing threat of extreme weather events to the desert nation’s infrastructure.
While some services have resumed normalcy, stagnant pools of water lingered in certain areas even a week after the storm. To address the damages, Dubai’s rulers have pledged a hefty Dh2bn ($545mn) investment in repair efforts.
Traditionally, rainfall has not been a major concern for Dubai and the UAE. However, the recent deluge served as a wake-up call, prompting a reevaluation of urban planning strategies and infrastructure resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
For businesses like Bookends, a used book store, the sudden downpour resulted in significant losses, with floodwater inundating their basement-level shop, damaging thousands of books beyond repair.

Scientific studies indicate that heavy rainfall, exacerbated by warming temperatures linked to human-induced climate change, has become increasingly severe in recent years.
The UAE, already grappling with scorching summers exceeding 50°C, must now also contend with the repercussions of wetter weather patterns fueled by global warming.
Dubai, in particular, faces unique challenges due to its sprawling urban landscape characterized by impermeable surfaces and inadequate drainage systems. Despite past considerations for comprehensive drainage solutions, limited action was taken due to the perceived low risk versus high costs.

In response to the recent floods, Dubai’s leadership has approved a Dh66bn upgrade to the city’s drainage network. This substantial investment reflects a recognition of the urgent need to fortify infrastructure against future weather extremes.
Moving forward, experts suggest embracing “sponge city” principles and implementing stricter building codes to enhance resilience and mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. As Dubai grapples with the aftermath of the storm, the city’s response underscores the imperative of proactive measures in the face of climate change-induced challenges.