From tarpaulin sheets and sandbags to umbrellas and water pumps, residents across the UAE rushed to buy flood-prevention materials as early rain alerts prompted preparations days before the downpour.
In Sharjah’s Industrial Area 6, sellers noticed the surge in demand even before the first drops fell. Salim Khan, a market trader, said customers began arriving around March 21, shortly after Eid Al Fitr.
“A lot of people came and were buying used tarpaulin, sandbags, flex sheets and cartons in bulk. Some even placed advance orders,” he said. “At that time, I did not understand why there was so much demand. Usually, these items don’t sell like this.”
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The reason became clear only days later. “On March 25, when it started raining, one of the customers told me they were using it to protect their homes and buildings from water,” Khan said. “That’s when I realised why everyone was buying so much earlier.”
By then, Khan said that it was too late to restock. “My stock was already finished, and even transportation was a problem because many areas in Sharjah Industrial Area were waterlogged,” he added.
Noorul Huq, another trader of plastics in the same area said the demand was not just from homeowners but also from construction sites and small businesses.
“People were taking tarpaulin and flex sheets to cover open areas, especially newly constructed parts of buildings,” he said. “Some were buying sandbags to place at entrances and stop water from entering.”
Most in-demand items during the rains
Sandbags, flex sheets, tarpaulin, buckets, water pumps, and mops were among the most in-demand items, as residents looked for quick ways to manage flooding.
“Some customers were asking how to use these materials properly, where to place them, how to block water,” added Huq. “It was clear people were preparing seriously this time.”
Alongside hardware markets, discount centres also saw spike in demand for rain-related items like umbrellas, rain coats and car covers.
Gazzali, a salesman at a discount centre in Al Nahda, Sharjah, said umbrellas and raincoats were among the fastest-selling products over the past week.
“We sold hundreds of umbrellas in just a few days,” he said. “People were buying earlier after seeing the weather forecast. Raincoats also sold quickly, especially among delivery riders and workers.”
He added that demand for car protection items also increased. “Car covers and large plastic sheets were also moving fast. People wanted to protect their vehicles, especially those parked in open areas,” he said.
Residents were not just buying but were preparing based on past experience. Many used tarpaulin sheets to cover entrances, sandbags to block water flow and plastic covers to protect furniture, equipment and vehicles. Buckets, mops and small water pumps were also used to remove water that entered homes and shops.
Sellers said such demand spikes are rare but not unexpected after last year’s heavy rains. “After what people saw in 2024, they are more alert now,” said Huq. “This time, many didn’t wait for the rain. They prepared before it started.”
Source: Khaleej Times