From leaky ceilings and sopping furniture to flooded rooms and gardens turned to mush, yesterday’s record-breaking downpour adversely affected many homes as well as living conditions.
The basic wiping, squeegeeing and mopping aside, we ask residents and experts how to reverse the damage, as well as ways to reduce the impact the next time it rains.
Today: Disinfect and document
Neha Gaggar, co-founder of team-building company Rush-A-Way, found herself facing a fallen tree right at the entrance of her Umm Suqeim villa. “My husband and I could not move it ourselves, so we rang Dubai Municipality call centre number [800 900] at 7pm on Tuesday. We were told the agricultural division would get here when they can to move it.”
Rama Kamil, a resident of Jumeirah Village Triangle in Dubai, also recommends calling in the experts for big-ticket damage. “An entire metal gazebo collapsed in our backyard and we have been advised not to go close to it or attempt to clean up ourselves as it could be very dangerous, and to instead call in a building company,” says the marketing manager.
For Kamil, who has a garden, another priority is wiping down all wet surfaces outside the home as well as emptying plant pots and other receptors. “This is crucial to avoid mosquitoes from multiplying as we have young children in the home,” she says.
Kabir Khan, who lives in a villa in Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha community, adds disinfection is as important as removing debris and wiping down furniture and other surfaces.
The IT executive also tends to document any damage, taking pictures and footage from his phone. “This helps if you need to raise complaints with facility management or insurance companies,” he says.
The bathroom should not be overlooked, either, says Frederick Trzcinski, vice president, commercial ME and marketing MEA at Ideal Standard. “Start by drying all surfaces and ventilating the space to prevent mold and mildew growth.
“Cleaning drains is essential to prevent clogs and ensure proper drainage, while maintaining grout and sealants helps preserve the integrity of your bathroom surfaces. Additionally, using water-absorbent mats can help capture excess moisture and protect your floors.”
Tomorrow: Waterproof and exercise electric safety
There are also ways in which residents can lay the groundwork to minimise water-related damage the next time it rains. Gaggar says she assesses the weak points in the house after each downpour and takes action accordingly, which paid off this time around.
“Each time it has rained in the past few months, parts of the ceiling would leak and break, so we called some workers in to waterproof. However, this did not work in one part of the house, so a few months ago, we installed a second layer of roof, and this time that area of the house was safe and dry,” she says.
“A lot of the water also comes in from the windows, so now we place heavy towels on the sill as soon as it starts raining to reduce the flow.”
When it comes to safety, shifting or pinning down loose objects is key, says Hitesh Sharma, founder of Taste Studio Catering. “We’ve had light construction barricades and sheets attached to poles flying about outside the studio in Jebel Ali all morning, which is so dangerous,” he says.
“At home, too, take in all your wicker and cane furniture from the garden or balcony so it does not fly out.”
Sharma, who has stayed in various villas for the past eight years, is also a proponent of electric safety. “When any of the points in my home’s distribution board trips, I put the breakers down one by one. Then I switch on the main first followed by each individual breaker. If any of these drop, I don’t turn that particular one on again as it means it is still wet and needs time to dry off, which could take a whole day, even two depending on the extent of the leakage,” he explains.
Shane Jewell, associate director of Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty, offers a to-do list to help prevent future water damage. “Do a full water inspection on your property. Roofs are one of the worst problems for leaks, so do a maintenance check. Use silicone along windows and doors, and check all walls for cracks and peeling paint as water can get through these.”
Jewell adds: “Make sure all external and internal drainage has been water-tested and is clear rather than clogged up or covered by furniture. A common error in the UAE is the landscaping areas do not flow the correct way. Have your maintenance team check any garden or patio areas to make sure the water is flowing towards the drainage.
“People who have swimming pools should ensure they have been drained so levels are not so high as to overflow.”
Finally, those who own their homes can look into installing drainage pipes or pumps underground, while tenants can request the same of landlords.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Company%20Profile
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
