Sharjah residents laud quick, 'properly planned' response to rains, preventing flooding

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A major concern for most Sharjah residents amid heavy rains has not been an issue this time around. 

Earlier, roads would remain flooded for a few days, bringing traffic to a standstill. However, this time around, many residents and workers said the situation was handled well, with water being cleared quickly and movement returning to normal within hours.

Afsar Ghulam, a taxi driver who has been working in Sharjah for 15 years, said he clearly noticed the difference on the roads.

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“This time, I saw water-extracting trucks already stationed in low-lying areas and places with poor drainage,” he said. “As soon as it started raining, they began removing the water. When one truck got full, another one came immediately. It looked properly planned.”

He added that unlike previous rains, traffic did not come to a complete halt. “We could still see vehicles moving. Earlier, even a short rain would block roads for hours or even days. This time, it was much better.”

Delivery riders, who are often the first to be affected during bad weather, also said that they were able to continue their work without major disruptions.

“This time, we didn’t face much trouble delivering orders,” he said. “We could reach our destinations easily. Orders were not getting cancelled like before.”

He recalled how quickly the situation improved in some areas. “There were a few roads that were flooded at one point. But when I went back to the same area after about two hours, the water was gone. There was no panic, everything was normal.”

Residents in areas like Al Qasimiya and Al Mahatta also said they were prepared for the worst, based on past experiences, but were surprised.

“Earlier, we would get worried as soon as it started raining,” said Tahoor Siddique, a resident of Al Qasimiya. “This time, we were ready to move to another place if things got bad. But that didn’t happen.”

Samad Kutti, resident of Al Mahatta said authorities seemed well-prepared. “They didn’t allow water to accumulate. You could see that they were ready and acting quickly. Within a short time, roads were clear.”

For many, the biggest change was not just the faster clearance of water, but the sense of confidence it brought.