Flood risks and resilience planning in Qatar for expected climatic change: A systematic review of the literature

The Arabian Gulf, predominately an arid and semi-arid region, has experienced extreme rainfall events in the recent decade, putting pressure on infrastructure and the socioeconomic system. Qatar is one of the affected countries, and the current estimations suggest a rise in rainfall intensity in the country up to 76% by the 2080s-90s. This article synthesizes the findings of a systematic literature review on Qatar’s flood management strategies, aiming to provide evidence and recommendations to enhance resilience. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this article analyzes 24 peer-reviewed studies. Additional literature is incorporated to ensure comprehensiveness, including 102 supplementary sources. The synthesis is structured into five themes: (1) urbanization and infrastructure impact, (2) water management strategies, (3) climatic uncertainty on runoff predictions, (4) flood risk assessment, and (5) road-network resilience recovery. The findings reveal three critical challenges to the flood management system in Qatar: rapid urbanization, limited drainage system infrastructure, and insufficient rainfall data. The study provides strategies to mitigate these challenges, including integrating sustainable drainage systems managed aquifer recharge, developing resilient road networks, developing early warning systems, and strengthening stakeholder cooperation and communication.