Dubai Municipality and Dubai South have joined forces in a Dh150 million agreement to construct a new stormwater drainage tunnel aimed at enhancing flood protection and supporting sustainable urban growth in the area.
The new secondary tunnel, which will connect Dubai South’s drainage systems to the deep tunnel network via Expo Road, is part of the massive Dh30 billion Tasreef infrastructure initiative. The program, overseen by Dubai Municipality, aims to expand stormwater management capacity across the emirate by 700 percent by the year 2033.
“Developing stormwater drainage systems remains one of our strategic priorities,” said Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality. “Through the Tasreef programme, we’re building a comprehensive, unified network of deep tunnels to serve the emirate for the next 100 years.”
Once operational, the new drainage link is expected to significantly reduce flood risks, improve surface runoff handling, and protect essential infrastructure such as roads and buildings.
Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South, emphasized the broader impact of the initiative. “This marks a milestone in our plan to provide a resilient and integrated urban environment. The new drainage system is a forward-looking solution that supports our goal of accommodating one million residents in Dubai South.”
The Tasreef project also aims to cut the construction and operational costs of pumping stations by 20 percent while ensuring the system can manage over 20 million cubic metres of water daily. Earlier phases have already delivered improvements in areas such as Al Maktoum City, Expo City, and the Airport District.
