“يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ” Surah Al-A’raf (The Heights) 7:31

“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.”

This verse serves as a guideline for moderation and mindfulness in the use of resources, aligning with principles of environmental stewardship by advising against extravagance.

Dubai, a city synonymous with cutting-edge architecture and relentless urban expansion, faces an escalating challenge that underscores the complexities of modern urban environments—unprecedented torrential rainfalls. This phenomenon is not just a climatic anomaly but a stark reminder of the ecological costs of intensive urbanisation.

Historically characterised by its arid climate, Dubai has undergone a dramatic transformation. From a vast desert to a sprawling metropolis featuring artificial islands and ski resorts, this shift has significantly altered local weather patterns. The development has intensified the ‘urban heat island’ effect, where urban sprawl generates significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. This alteration increases atmospheric moisture retention, leading to heavier and atypical rainfall.

Furthermore, Dubai’s reliance on cloud seeding technology to artificially stimulate precipitation epitomises the city’s approach to overcoming natural limitations through technology. While this method addresses immediate issues such as water scarcity, it does not tackle the underlying sustainability concerns. Instead, it introduces a risk of unforeseen consequences, reflecting a broader trend where technological solutions are sought for problems exacerbated by human activities.

These technological interventions, though innovative, often overlook the traditional teachings of Islam, which emphasise stewardship and balance with the natural world. Islamic environmental ethics, advocating for “mizan” (balance) and cautioning against “israf” (excess), provide a framework for evaluating and guiding environmental management. These principles urge a consideration of long-term impacts and promote harmony rather than domination over nature.

The severe flooding resulting from these heavy rains, overwhelming a cityscape and infrastructure unprepared for such events, vividly illustrates the consequences of neglecting such balance. This disruption to daily life and exposure of infrastructural vulnerabilities calls for a re-evaluation of how urban development is approached.

As Dubai, and indeed other cities worldwide, continue to push the boundaries of what is architecturally and technologically possible, it becomes imperative to integrate Islamic environmental ethics into urban planning. Such integration can lead to more sustainable urban environments that respect ecological limits and strive for environmental harmony.

Dubai’s rain crisis acts as a critical reminder of the need to balance technological progress with ethical environmental stewardship. The city’s experiences offer invaluable lessons on the importance of incorporating traditional ecological wisdom into the planning and development of modern urban spaces. Aligning technological ambitions with Islamic teachings on stewardship could pave the way for more resilient and sustainable urban futures.