How The UAE’s 2024 Floods Inspired Emirati Innovators Tuqa Alabdouli And Saara Alkaabi To Build SRMERS

In April 2024, the UAE was struck by its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, with cities like Dubai and Al Ain receiving more than 250 mm of rain in less than 24 hours—almost two years’ worth in a single day. The deluge submerged roads, flooded homes, disrupted airports, schools, and more, and for two young Emirati women, Tuqa Alabdouli and Saara Alkaabi, the devastation wasn’t just a crisis—it was a call to act. 

This is how Alabdouli and Alkaabi became the innovators behind SRMERS, which stands for the Smart Rainwater Management Emergency Response System that they developed to anticipate floods, protect communities, and even channel excess rainwater into storage for reuse. As the UAE marks Emirati Women’s Day 2025, their entrepreneurial journey can be seen as a showcase of how Emirati women are spearheading innovation in the country. 

Alabdouli, an information technology networking student who is the founder and CEO of SRMERS, tells Inc. Arabia that the enterprise came about after the UAE floods underscored the need for better preparedness. “The concept of SRMERS was my idea,” she says. “I wanted to design a solution that could protect communities and reuse rainwater. What drew me into innovation was my love for problem-solving, and my belief that our generation must protect resources and build a resilient future.” Alkaabi, a Fujairah native who works in technology and cloud systems, joined Alabdouli in her mission by playing the role of co-founder and co-CEO of SRMERS. “I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can make communities safer and smarter,” she says. “Joining Tuqa on SRMERS gave me the chance to support a powerful idea and help bring it to life." 

Seeing the impact of the floods on the UAE was what set the two women’s entrepreneurial spark alight. “The idea of SRMERS came to me during the floods in the UAE,” Alabdouli recalls. “Watching roads, homes, and farms struggle with sudden heavy rainfall made me realize we needed a proactive solution. That’s when SRMERS moved from just an idea in my mind to a mission I wanted to build.” When she shared the concept with Alkaabi, the latter immediately saw its potential. “I joined her to shape it into a full project,” Alkaabi says. “Together, we worked on turning her concept into a system that alerts, protects, and reuses rainwater smartly.” 

At its simplest, SRMERS can be described as an early-warning and water-management system rolled into one. It’s been designed to predict flood risks and protect communities from sudden surges, while also capturing excess rainwater so that it can be reused instead of wasted. “SRMERS uses smart sensors to detect rising water levels,” Alkaabi explains. “Once triggered, the system activates pumps and sends real-time alerts. For cities, it helps redirect excess rainwater into storage. For farms, it means irrigation water is never wasted.” Alabdouli adds that it was imperative that SRMERS should be able to act before disaster struck. “The proactive part was key in my idea—from the start, I wanted a system that acts before floods become disasters,” Alabdouli says. “That’s the beauty: early action that prevents damage and turns risk into resource.” 

The duo’s capstone project at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) became the proving ground for SRMERS, giving them the chance to test whether the concept could work in practice. “We had Tuqa’s concept, but turning it into a prototype meant endless testing, coding, and refining,” Alkaabi shares. For her part, Alabdouli remembers the pressure of proving that SRMERS could grow beyond the classroom. “One of the biggest challenges for me was proving that my idea was more than just a student project,” Alabdouli says. “We had to show it could scale and have real impact. With persistence and teamwork, we finally turned my concept into a working prototype.” 

Their determination paid off when SRMERS was selected by the Changemakers Academy, an initiative of the Expo City Dubai Foundation that supports young social entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and business setup to turn bold ideas into real solutions. “The Changemakers Academy provided us with the opportunity to validate our ideas and how to best present them,” Alabdouli says. “This experience has inspired us and strengthened our belief that our project can move forward.” Alkaabi adds, “So far, what we’ve gained is invaluable: encouragement, structure, and the confidence to take the next steps with clarity and determination. The full program begins in September, which will enable us to take our initiative further.”  

That said, the Emirati duo’s innovation has already started to gain traction. “We’ve had incredible feedback,” Alabdouli reveals. “Policymakers especially recognize the importance of my idea, and how it fits into smart city planning.” Alkaabi adds, “Partners are intrigued by its dual purpose: safety and sustainability. It’s not just emergency technology—it’s innovation for the future.” 

However, the co-founders state that, for them, SRMERS is more than a tech solution—it’s a way to plug directly into the country’s long-term goals. “SRMERS fits directly into the UAE’s sustainability vision,” Alkaabi explains. “It aligns with smart city strategies by making urban areas safer while conserving resources.” And having proven how SRMERS can serve the UAE’s sustainability agenda, the founders are already looking outward. “I always imagined SRMERS as a scalable idea,” Alabdouli says. “Flooding isn’t unique to the UAE. This concept can be applied globally, especially in regions with seasonal heavy rain.” 

As Alabdouli and Alkaabi thus look ahead to the future of SRMERs, the duo are also keen to offer a word of advice to fellow aspiring innovators. “Believe in your idea—even if it feels small, it can grow into something powerful,” Alabdouli says. “I know because that’s how SRMERS started for me: as one thought during a flood.” Alkaabi adds, “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start now, learn along the way, and never underestimate the value of teamwork.” 

Pictured in the lead image are Saara Alkaabi (L) and Tuqa Alabdouli (R). Image courtesy SRMERs.