Water & Wastewater

$44m water projects approved in UAE

The valley of Wadi Naqab in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

The UAE government has given approval for a series of strategic water infrastructure development projects worth Dh162 million ($44 million) including the building of new dams and water canals in various parts of the country.

The new projects include the construction of a 27-m-high dam at Wadi Naqab in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, valued at Dh27 million, said senior government officials.

The 257-m-wide dam, which is being built in the main valley of Wadi Naqab, some 6 km from the intersection of three valleys in Al Fahlain, will control the flow of water to residential neighbourhoods and improve groundwater storage in agricultural areas. It will boast a one million cubic metre capacity.

The project will be followed by the construction of water channels with regular and lined paths, as well as lakes and barriers to absorb and store large amounts of rain water and prevent waste, the officials stated.

The projects also include several dams, water canals and urgent protection works in areas off the eastern coast, as well as in Masfout, Siji and Shawka, valued at Dh122.6 million.

Besides this, ferry and water drainage channels will also be built to protect housing areas in several regions of Fujairah, at a cost of Dh76.2 million, along with the deployment of a number of water ferries and the maintenance of the Hazf Dam in Masfout, Ajman, at a cost of Dh11.5 million, said the officials.

The government will also focus on projects related to draining rainwater and construction of ferries in Sharjah, at a total cost of Dh19.4 million, he added.

These projects will be located in the Luluyah and Mediffi areas of Khor Fakkan, Al Saf and Sur Kalba, while the ferry project will be located at the Wadi Shawka Dam on the Al-Siji-Shawka Road.

Another project in the series is the construction of urgent protection works in the village of Al Siji, as well as in Dafta, Ras Al Khaimah, costing Dh15.5 million, as well as the construction of the Al Rahba Dam and protection works in Shaml, Ras Al Khaimah, costing Dh11.9 million.

The committee also directed several specialist consultancy companies to perform hydrological studies on all areas of the country’s northern regions and eastern coast, as well as to draft related engineering and environmental plans that comply with the highest standards.