Recent inspections and investments highlight the UAE’s evolving approach to dam management, turning these structures into key components of a comprehensive water strategy that emphasises rainwater capture, digital monitoring, and infrastructure resilience amid climate change.
The UAE’s dams are starting to serve more than just flood-control purposes. Recently, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei emphasized the importance of capturing and making use of rainwater that might otherwise be lost after storms, highlighting a broader, more strategic role for these structures.
He was inspecting dams in the Eastern Region, checking how prepared they were, how well they performed during recent weather events, and how they responded to a weather system called “Low Pressure of Al Azzm,” which brought heavy rain to parts of the country. Al Mazrouei noted that the results indicated a solid level of readiness, and that this was thanks to ongoing investments, engineering advancements, and technology innovations.
His message wasn’t solely about resilience in face of extreme weather, though, he also stressed turning rainfall into a more useful resource, since water remains a critical asset in the UAE. Officials were instructed to get the most out of dam water, and to develop practical ways to reduce losses from stored rainwater. This effort, he said, should align with the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036.
That strategy lays out a long-term framework for ensuring sustainable water access, both during normal times and emergencies. According to a water security overview published by 7Fidelity, its goals include reducing overall water demand, boosting water productivity, improving efficiency across different sectors, and expanding safe reuse of treated water. Public summaries of the strategy also mention strengthening storage capacity and improving preparedness for periods of stress.
The recent inspection underscored how dams now fit into a broader water-management system. No longer seen just as protective barriers, the ministry stresses that these installations are becoming key components of the country’s water security network. They help absorb runoff during heavy rains, protect both people and property, and preserve stored water for later use.
During the visit, officials showcased the digital systems used to manage dams. These include surveillance cameras, devices monitoring river flow, sensors tracking reservoir water levels, and equipment observing groundwater conditions. All these tools feed into an integrated digital platform powered by AI, which analyzes water movement, forecasts its course, and pinpoints danger zones in real time. I mean, for a country increasingly prone to intense rain, such rapid assessment capabilities are pretty indispensable.
This recent inspection followed a period of unusually heavy rainfall in the UAE, during which the dam network reportedly stored about 72 million cubic metres of water. The system consists of 109 dams with a combined capacity of over 90 million cubic metres. Reservoirs reached about 83% of total capacity, with no significant damage reported. For policymakers, these figures highlight not just the scale of the infrastructure but also the importance of recent investments in preparedness.
And, interestingly enough, that investment has become more visible lately. In October 2024, the committee overseeing the President’s initiatives approved a set of new dams and canals across various parts of the country. This plan includes nine new dams, the expansion of two existing ones, and a number of embankment barriers, along with nine water canals spanning roughly 9 kilometres. The purpose is to increase storage, divert stormwater more effectively, and lessen the impact of heavy rains on residential areas. It’s meant to serve about 13 localities in several emirates, including Shis and Khor Fakkan (Sharjah), Masfout (Ajman), Sha’am and Al Fahleen (Ras Al Khaimah), and various communities in Fujairah.
This broader push directly reflects the water scarcity challenges the UAE faces. Since the country has minimal natural freshwater sources, no permanent rivers, and low average rainfall, the reliance on desalination remains paramount for drinking water. At the same time, substantial investments in storage systems, reuse, and flood mitigation have been made. Given all that, every rainfall event is a big deal, it needs to be managed carefully in the short term and captured efficiently for future use.
Al Mazrouei’s visit wasn’t just about dams. He also asked for engineering studies to evaluate how rainwater affects federal roads, and to propose smarter solutions, like better drainage systems and stronger protections for cuttings and vulnerable infrastructure points. The goal is to keep traffic flowing safely during storms while reducing long-term infrastructure damage.
This approach ties water management more closely to transport planning than before. As climate change intensifies, stormwater is no longer just about reservoirs or valleys. It impacts roads, bridges, urban drainage, and overall public safety. Now, officials seem to be viewing these systems as interconnected parts of the same resilience challenge.
The ministry also praised its field teams for their quick responses during emergencies, noting that their performance is a strong example of preparedness. For the UAE, building infrastructure for a hotter, more unpredictable climate, such operational discipline is becoming as essential as the physical structures themselves.
The lesson? Well, the recent storms have made it pretty clear: dams can still help against flooding, but now they’re expected to do much more. They need to store, direct, monitor, and support a wider water economy. And, in the UAE, that shift is now embedded into the national strategy.
- https://www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A/4657299/%D8%B3%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%83%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF–%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AE%D9%81%D8%B6-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%85–%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A4%D9%83%D8%AF – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://7fidelity.ae/water-desalination/ – The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to ensure sustainable and continuous access to water during normal and extreme emergency conditions. Developed from a comprehensive national perspective, the strategy covers all elements of the water supply chain in the country, with the participation of all entities and authorities concerned with water resources. The strategy aims to implement integrated water resources management by reducing total demand for water resources by 21 percent, increase the water productivity index to USD 110 per cubic metre, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors, and improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing recycling and safe reuse of treated water to 95 percent.
- https://sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2026/04/09/AL013 – Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, has directed maximising the use of dam water and developing practical solutions to reduce losses from stored rainwater, to enhance the efficiency of water resource management and support the objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. This came during an inspection tour of several dams in the Eastern Region, where the Minister reviewed their readiness, operational efficiency, and performance during the recent weather event, which brought heavy rainfall across various parts of the country.
- https://www.urdupoint.com/en/middle-east/suhail-al-mazrouei-directs-maximising-use-of-2167386.html – Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, has directed maximising the use of dam water and developing practical solutions to reduce losses from stored rainwater, to enhance the efficiency of water resource management and support the objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036. This came during an inspection tour of several dams in the Eastern Region, where the Minister reviewed their readiness, operational efficiency, and performance during the recent weather event, which brought heavy rainfall across various parts of the country.
- https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2024/10/18/uae-president-approves-building-9-dams-9-water-canals-in-various-regions-including-sharjah – Following the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the “Initiatives of His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates” committee has approved a package of dams and water canals in various areas of the country. These efforts aim to enhance the UAE’s strategic water infrastructure, aligning with the objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 by boosting the capacity of water installations. The committee announced plans to construct nine new water dams, expand two existing ones, and build a number of embankment barriers. These measures will strengthen infrastructure to cope with climate change and increase water reserves by collecting rainwater and floodwaters, with a storage capacity of up to 8 million cubic metres. The projects will be completed within 19 months, along with the construction of nine water canals, approximately 9 kilometres in length, to mitigate the impact of water flow from rainfall in certain residential areas. The committee stated that the projects will be carried out in 13 residential areas, including Shis and Khor Fakkan in the Emirate of Sharjah, Masfout in the Emirate of Ajman, Sha’am and Al Fahleen in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as well as Mohamed Bin Zayed City and the areas of Hail, Qidfa, Murbeh, Dadna, Al Seeji and Ghazimri in the Emirate of Fujairah.
- https://uaepedia.net/uae-aquifers/ – The UAE faces significant water scarcity challenges, with less than 100mm of annual rainfall and no permanent rivers. To address this, the nation has transformed water management into a global innovation showcase. Key water scarcity indicators include annual rainfall under 100mm, groundwater reserves of 640 billion cubic meters (with only 3% being freshwater), and daily consumption of 550 liters per person. The UAE operates 70 major desalination plants, accounting for around 14% of the world’s total production of desalinated water, supplying 90% of the nation’s drinking water needs. The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 aims to ensure sustainable and continuous access to safe and adequate quantities of potable water, with targets such as reducing total water demand by 21%, increasing water productivity to USD 110 per cubic meter, reducing the water scarcity index by three degrees, increasing treated water reuse to 95%, and increasing national water storage capacity to two days.
- https://www.zawya.com/en/business/energy/presidents-initiatives-approve-water-dams-canal-projects-in-uae-a6nmn7g2 – Following the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the “Initiatives of His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates” committee has approved a package of dams and water canals in various areas of the country. These efforts aim to enhance the UAE’s strategic water infrastructure, aligning with the objectives of the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 by boosting the capacity of water installations. The committee announced plans to construct nine new water dams, expand two existing ones, and build a number of embankment barriers. These measures will strengthen infrastructure to cope with climate change and increase water reserves by collecting rainwater and floodwaters, with a storage capacity of up to 8 million cubic metres. The projects will be completed within 19 months, along with the construction of nine water canals, approximately 9 kilometres in length, to mitigate the impact of water flow from rainfall in certain residential areas. The committee stated that the projects will be carried out in 13 residential areas, including Shis and Khor Fakkan in the Emirate of Sharjah, Masfout in the Emirate of Ajman, Sha’am and Al Fahleen in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, as well as Mohamed bin Zayed City and the areas of Hail, Qidfa, Murbeh, Dadna, Al Seeji and Ghazimri in the Emirate of Fujairah.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references a recent inspection by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, of dams in the Eastern Region following heavy rainfall. A similar inspection was reported on 9 May 2024, highlighting the UAE’s efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience against floods and rains. ([moei.gov.ae](https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/9/5/2024/minister-of-energy-and-infrastructure-tours-rain-affected-areas-says-integrated-plan-is-in-place?utm_source=openai)) The current article, dated 9 April 2026, appears to be a follow-up, indicating freshness. However, the overlap with the earlier report suggests some recycled content. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 9 May 2024.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Suhail Al Mazrouei regarding the importance of capturing and utilising rainwater. These quotes are consistent with statements made during the 9 May 2024 inspection. ([moei.gov.ae](https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/9/5/2024/minister-of-energy-and-infrastructure-tours-rain-affected-areas-says-integrated-plan-is-in-place?utm_source=openai)) No earlier instances of these exact quotes were found, suggesting originality. However, the reuse of these quotes raises concerns about content originality. The earliest known usage of these quotes is 9 May 2024.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The article is published on the official website of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, a reputable government source. The content is consistent with other reports from the ministry, such as the 9 May 2024 report on the inspection of rain-affected areas. ([moei.gov.ae](https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/9/5/2024/minister-of-energy-and-infrastructure-tours-rain-affected-areas-says-integrated-plan-is-in-place?utm_source=openai)) The source’s reliability is high, but the potential recycling of content from previous reports is a concern.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article discusses the UAE’s efforts to enhance dam efficiency and water resource management following heavy rainfall. This aligns with the UAE’s ongoing initiatives to improve infrastructure resilience against floods and rains, as reported in May 2024. ([moei.gov.ae](https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/media-center/news/9/5/2024/minister-of-energy-and-infrastructure-tours-rain-affected-areas-says-integrated-plan-is-in-place?utm_source=openai)) The claims are plausible and consistent with known government activities. However, the overlap with earlier reports suggests some recycled content. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 9 May 2024.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article appears to be a follow-up to previous reports from May 2024, with substantial overlap in content and direct quotes. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 9 May 2024. While the source is reliable, the lack of independent verification and potential recycling of content raises concerns about originality and freshness.
