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Executive overview
Key findings
78 mm a year: long-term average rainfall (2020), with summer temperatures projected to rise 2–3 °C by 2060–2079
40 of 80 million m³; 72 million m³: water held by federal dams after the April 2024 storm (MOEI, May 2024), and retained after a 2026 rain event in a network stated at more than 90 million m³ (MOEI, April 2026)
AED 30 billion: Dubai's Tasreef stormwater programme, designed to raise drainage capacity by 700%; about AED 6.94 billion awarded in three rounds to October 2026 (calculated)
2 November 2026: date by which the UAE National Adaptation Plan, due for finalisation in 2025, had still not appeared on the UNFCCC's NAP Central
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Drainage, tunnelling and pumping contractors
Tasreef award rounds to 25 October 2026 and the Dubai sewerage tunnels PPP, with values and stages.
Dam, flood-monitoring and hydrology engineers
Federal dam storage after the 2024 and 2026 rain events, the pending dam expansion study and MOEI's monitoring platform.
Climate risk and adaptation advisers
The status of the National Adaptation Plan, the January 2026 adaptation finance assessment and Abu Dhabi's 142-action environment plan.
Aquifer storage and recharge specialists
The 26 million m³ Liwa reserve, DEWA's 6 billion gallon aquifer target and the national storage targets by edition.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
How did UAE dams perform in recent storms?
They held 40 of 80 million m³ after the April 2024 storm and about 72 million m³ after a 2026 rain event, on different counts of 103 and 109 dams.
How much is Dubai spending on flood drainage?
Tasreef is a AED 30 billion programme; about AED 6.94 billion had been awarded in three rounds by 25 October 2026.
What do climate projections say?
Summer temperatures are projected to rise 2–3 °C by 2060–2079, and Arabian Gulf sea surface temperatures 1.7–2.8 °C by 2095–2099.
Does the UAE have a National Adaptation Plan?
Finalisation was expected in 2025, but the plan had not appeared on the UNFCCC's NAP Central by 2 November 2026.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Snapshot
1. Why This Matters Now in United Arab Emirates
2. Current Position
3. Key Programmes, Projects and Investment
4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions
5. Risks and Constraints
6. Strategic Implications
7. What to Watch
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
1. Why This Matters Now in United Arab Emirates
Results of the dam expansion study; the National Adaptation Plan's submission.
3. Key Programmes, Projects and Investment
The next Tasreef award round; DSST formal awards; DEWA aquifer reserve progress.
4. Policy, Regulation and Institutions
The National Adaptation Plan's water content; launch of Abu Dhabi's infrastructure adaptation plan.
5. Risks and Constraints
A consistent federal dam inventory; any desalination outage linked to marine conditions.
Key Programmes, Projects and Investment: flood and drainage programmes, strategic water reserves and lower-carbon supply targets, with owner, value and stage.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 10 pages, 9 sections, 8 tables and a register of 24 sources.
This edition
November 2026 edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
Built on the UAE's Fifth National Communication to the UNFCCC, MOEI dam and rainy-season statements, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Media Office Tasreef announcements, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi plans and releases, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy strategy, DEWA and EWEC targets, MOCCAE's adaptation finance assessment and UN-Water series.
Sources
24 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 10 November 2026. Principal data periods: climate projections from the Fifth National Communication (December 2023); federal dam storage after the April 2024 storm and a 2026 rain event; adaptation plans and programmes to 2050; project and plan status checked on 10 November 2026. Currency is UAE dirhams (AED), with US dollars (US$) where the source states them..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
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Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Climate Resilience: Drought and Flood Risk in United Arab Emirates
- Format
- Length
- 10 pages
- Edition
- November 2026 edition
- Price
- USD 249
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- Insight Brief
- Edition
- November 2026 edition
- Format
- Length
- 10 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_CLIMATE_RESILIENCE_DROUGHT_AND_FLOOD_RISK_IN_UNITED_ARAB_EMIRATES_4e45ec71c40e
- Evidence current to
- 10 November 2026
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