2,300 personnel deployed in Dubai during storm; police receive over 10,000 calls

Dubai Police reported receiving a total of 10,232 calls on Saturday between 6 AM and 3 PM, according to information released by the Dubai Media Office.

The emergency hotline 999 accounted for 9,275 calls, while the non-emergency hotline 901 received 957 calls. Dubai Police have urged the public to call the 999 hotline solely for emergency situations and use the 901 hotline for all other non-emergency purposes.

Dubai Police also advised drivers to steer clear of water-logged areas, valleys and low-lying areas as long as adverse weather conditions continue. They particularly warned the public against entering valleys to ensure the safety of lives and property.

Meanwhile, Dubai’s emergency response teams demonstrated high levels of preparedness in managing emergency situations caused by adverse weather conditions throughout the emirate on Saturday.

Dubai Police teams continue to work across Dubai to alleviate the impact of current weather conditions. pic.twitter.com/LPjms9ticU

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 9, 2024

Dubai authorities deployed a total of 2,300 personnel from across various entities including Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, and Nakheel to respond to emergencies and mitigate the impact of heavy rains that struck the UAE this weekend.

The teams were equipped with over 700 units of equipment including 250 tankers, 300 rainwater pumps, over 180 emergency vehicles, field survey vehicles, machinery and other heavy equipment, to deal with water-logged conditions.

Joint Dubai government teams based at RTA's Enterprise Command and Control Centre are monitoring updates and coordinating efforts to manage the current weather conditions. pic.twitter.com/ziG6LtsWcu

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 9, 2024

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai took to social media platform X to thank the workers who kept the city running on the rainy day.

نشكر كل الفرق الميدانية من مختلف الجهات التي عملت من أجل راحة الناس في دبي في هذا اليوم الممطر.. pic.twitter.com/LdauUdYwXf

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 9, 2024

Dubai authorities have devised a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety and security of the public, and address any issues that may arise due to the heavy rains.

The field teams' strategy for mitigating the effects of adverse weather leverages historical data and statistics from earlier rainy seasons. Pre-emptive planning and scenario building have enabled them to maintain smooth traffic flows and swiftly address water-logging.

Members of the public can report any issues through the smart apps of Dubai Municipality, RTA and Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, or their contact centres at the following numbers: 800900, 8009090, 80030, respectively.