Securing Dubai Metro against extreme rainfall with AquaFence FloodWall
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Story: Strengthening Dubai Metro After Record-Breaking Rainfall
On 16 April 2024, the United Arab Emirates experienced its heaviest rainfall since national weather records began in 1949. The extreme weather caused widespread flooding across Dubai and significantly disrupted the city’s transport network.
Four Red Line stations—ONPASSIVE, Equiti, Mashreq and Energy—were temporarily closed while recovery work continued. The event demonstrated how quickly water accumulating around elevated and low-lying stations could affect passenger access, electrical systems and the continuity of metro operations.
As Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority strengthened the network’s emergency preparedness, AquaFence and its regional partner were selected to deliver a certified, rapidly deployable flood protection solution for four vulnerable stations.
The Challenge: Protecting a High-Capacity Metro Network
The project presented several critical requirements:
Four operational metro stations required coordinated perimeter protection.
Station entrances and surrounding areas had different layouts, elevations and access requirements.
Water needed to be controlled before it could reach sensitive station infrastructure.
Passenger access and emergency egress had to remain central to the protection strategy.
The system needed to meet demanding certification, engineering and delivery requirements.
Deployment had to be practical for local operating teams responding to severe-weather warnings.
The Solution: Integrated FloodWall and FlashWall Protection
AquaFence developed a site-specific solution combining two complementary flood protection systems:
V1200 and V1800 FloodWalls, providing protection heights of 1.2 and 1.8 metres, were configured to form protective perimeters around the four stations.
Compact FlashWall barriers were positioned at selected station entrances, providing rapidly deployable opening protection while supporting continued pedestrian access.
Engineered barrier layouts were designed to guide floodwater away from vulnerable station areas and toward designated drainage routes.
Sealing components along the base of the FloodWalls helped limit water seepage beneath the barriers.
Pumping capacity was incorporated into the wider protection strategy to remove water accumulating within or around protected areas.
AquaFence worked with its local implementation partner to provide engineering support, installation expertise and continued operational follow-up.
Unlike sandbags or permanent concrete structures, the AquaFence systems can be removed, cleaned and stored after the threat has passed, preserving the normal
appearance and function of the stations between severe-weather events.
The Results: Greater Resilience Across Four Critical Stations
The completed system provides Dubai Metro with:
Coordinated flood protection at ONPASSIVE, Equiti, Mashreq and Energy stations.
Protection heights adapted to the varying risk conditions across the four sites.
A combination of perimeter defense and targeted entrance protection.
Rapid deployment capability ahead of forecast rainfall.
A reusable solution that does not require permanent flood walls around the stations.
Improved protection for passenger access points and sensitive operational infrastructure.
Greater preparedness for future extreme-rainfall events.
According to the regional implementation partner, the barriers have already contributed to reducing flood damage and preventing service disruptions following the 2024 event.
By combining certified flood protection technology, site-specific engineering and local operational support, AquaFence has helped strengthen the resilience of one of Dubai’s most important public transportation systems.
Sources:
Emirates News Agency
Dubai RTA
Construction Week
