Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday instructed the Ministry of Interior to dispatch emergency teams from all emirates to support rescue operations in Fujairah and the eastern parts of the country that witnessed heavy rain on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mohammed directed the Ministry of Community Development to transfer all families affected by rain and floods in the country’s eastern region to makeshift shelters in collaboration with local bodies and book hotels for the affected families that live in high-risk areas.
Also read
- In pictures: Heavy rain lashes UAE, residents rescued in rain-affected Fujairah
- Rain in UAE: Public, and private sector employees in rain-affected areas to work remotely
- Rain in UAE: Moderate to heavy rain hits parts of Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah
- UAE sets up an emergency committee to assess damages caused by rain
In line with the directives of Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, has ordered rescue teams in Dubai be sent immediately to support operations in Fujairah and eastern parts of the country.
The Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the NCEMA, is aiding the response to the emergency, in line with Sheikh Mohammed’s orders.
The Ministry urged those in rain-affected regions not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary
Police are working to ensure the smooth traffic flow in flood-affected areas.
Remote work announced for public, private sector employees
Employees in remote areas have been ordered to work from home on Thursday and Friday.
The Cabinet instructed that employees of all federal bodies in the affected regions, particularly Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, will work from home on Thursday and Friday.
The decision excludes employees of the Civil Defence, police and security bodies that deal with emergencies, as well as community support-related bodies that deal with reports about damages affecting citizens’ farms and properties.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE ) has also called on private sector establishments in areas affected by rains and floods in the UAE to allow their non-essential employees to work remotely on Thursday and Friday.
The transportation for essential employees between their workplace and residence must be counted as within their working hours on these two days, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that this comes in the interest of employers and employees during times of emergency and in line with Articles 15 and 36 of Federal-Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 for regulating labour relations.