Anand Mahindra draws criticism for comparing the floods in Dubai to those in Mumbai after heavy rains

Severe flooding brought on by heavy rainfall in Dubai interrupted everyday life in the United Arab Emirates and caused cars to sink. Videos and pictures of the effect on the city streets are widely available on social media. In order to maintain safety, officials decided to shut down schools and institute remote work as a consequence, acting quickly. Famous Indian businessman Anand Mahindra caught people’s attention on social media during the pandemic when he posted a video of the UAE capital’s flooded roadways. Mahindra said, “Nope,” in his tweet, drawing a comparison between the current state of affairs and India’s financial and entertainment hub. Dubai, not Mumbai.

https://x.com/anandmahindra/status/1780294227852710199

The business tycoon’s tweet received a range of responses from people shortly after it went viral. Some chastised him for trivialising the circumstances, while others supported his viewpoint and said that Mahindra was only expressing a reality rather than making a joke.

One commenter criticized Mahindra’s analogy and questioned its applicability, claiming it was inaccurate. They contrasted the businessman’s example with that of an Oslo native cracking jokes about snow in Mumbai. “Incorrect analogy,” the commenter remarked. Such intense rains, which would drown most towns, were not anticipated when Dubai was founded. An even more fitting comparison would be if Bombay—which was not designed for snow at all—saw a sudden and heavy snowfall. Would anyone in icy Oslo make fun of Bombay?

“Anand Mahindra is not mocking Dubai, merely stating a fact that Mumbai does look like that often when it rains, but it’s Dubai this time,” a commenter swiftly defended the Mahindra and Mahindra chairperson. I repeat: Dubai or any other nation created with contemporary infrastructure specifically cannot control the weather, hence it must be designed to be impenetrable. Dubai may not get a lot of rain, but because it is located near the water, it is impossible for it to not have the greatest drainage system available.

The person went on to say that excessive cloud seeding use has contributed significantly to severe downpours. “Your statement is skewed because, unlike Mumbai, you enjoy and presumably love Dubai so much that you believe it is practically flawless and can never make a mistake. It isn’t,” the X user continued.

In addition to businesses and educational institutions, upscale retail centers like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates have also been impacted by the intense rains. In big locations, social media videos seem ankle-deep. The Dubai International Airport has started to reroute arriving planes till the weather improves in order to assure safety.