An AHP-based assessment of flood triggering factors to enhance resiliency in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Assessing flood triggering factors and risk reduction approaches are increasingly critical policy issues, particularly in global south countries that suffer the highest human and economic losses resulting from flood disasters. In Saudi Arabia, several cities have been experiencing flash floods incessant incidences in recent times, especially in the coastal cities of Dammam and Jeddah and Riyadh, which is bounded by valleys. However, there is a dearth of studies on experts’ opinions to assess flash flood triggering factors and alternative approaches to mitigating the flash flood impacts. Therefore, based on an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) questionnaire survey (n = 18), the objectives of this study are to explore experts’ opinions about the influence of specific climatic and non-climatic factors that trigger flash floods and the most effectual alternative approaches for reducing flash flood occurrence in the coastal city of Dammam. The findings indicate that rainfall has the highest likelihood of triggering flash floods with a priority weight of 32%, trailed by land use (19%) and slope (18%). Elevation and soil type were adjudged the least triggering factors with priority weights of 16 and 15%, respectively. Concerning flood reduction alternative approaches, drainage management (59%) is the most important alternative approach, followed distantly by disaster warning system (16%) and raising public awareness (15%). The study recommends drainage management, installing disaster warning systems, and raising public awareness in reducing flash flood disasters in the study area and the country at large.