UAE allocates Dhs2bn to support Emiratis affected by floods

The UAE has allocated Dhs2bn to help citizens repair homes that were damaged last week by a record-breaking storm that brought much of the country to a standstill.

The government tasked a ministerial committee to assess the damages and disburse compensations in cooperation with other federal and local entities.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, called last week’s extreme weather “unprecedented in its severity” and lessons would be learned from the deluge.

“We extend our thanks and gratitude to everyone who has worked and is still working for our country, including emergency and crisis centres, security, military, and civilian entities, federal and local government entities, volunteers, and all citizens and residents who have demonstrated solidarity, cooperation, and profound love for the UAE,” Sheikh Mohammed said during a cabinet meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi.

ترأست اليوم اجتماعاً لمجلس الوزراء بقصر الوطن بأبوظبي .. ناقشنا خلاله نتائج وآثار الحالة الجوية التي مرت بها الدولة خلال الأيام السابقة .. الحالة كانت غير مسبوقة في شدتها .. ولكننا دولة تتعلم من كل تجربة .. وتطور نفسها .. حيث تعاملت غرف العمليات المركزية مع أكثر من 200 ألف بلاغ..… pic.twitter.com/Yq7hEAhmHW

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 24, 2024

The UAE suffered the heaviest rains this month in 75 years, causing widespread flooding which trapped residents in traffic, offices and homes and left many people counting the cost of damage to vehicles and property.

The country’s control rooms dealt with over 200,000 distress calls from residents “highlighting the scale of the damage caused to residential properties”.

Sheikh Mohammed said more than 17,000 members of the security, emergency and interior services, 15,000 local authorities, and thousands of volunteers participated in dealing with the results of the exceptional weather conditions.

UAE’s response to record floods

 Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai authorised a series of initiatives and measures on Saturday to mitigate the impact of the severe weather following last week’s heavy rains.

Sheikh Hamdan directed the Dubai Land Department and the Real Estate Regulatory Agency to coordinate with property developers to expedite the restoration of normalcy.

Furthermore, the UAE central bank urged banks and insurance companies to allow customers affected by severe weather conditions to defer personal and car loan repayments for six months.

The central bank clarified that the damages to vehicles and homes as a result of the heavy rains that lashed the country last week are covered by insurance “if there is an insurance policy against loss and damage” – comprehensive insurance.

“The insurance companies shall be considered responsible for indemnification,” the UAE central bank said earlier this week.

The apex lender further said that property owners, whether homes or buildings, covered by insurance are entitled to have their properties repaired from damages caused by heavy rain and severe weather conditions.

UAE property developers’ including Dubai-based Emaar Properties pledged to repair properties that were damaged by heavy rains last week free of cost.

“In response to the challenges posed by this adverse weather and heavy rains that Dubai has experienced in the past few days, I am pleased to announce that Emaar will undertake the repair of all properties within our communities that have been damaged by the recent rains at its own cost,” said Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties.

Read: UAE floods: Banks to defer personal, car loan instalments for 6 months