Dubai authorities have released predatory fish to feast on mosquito larvae to help tackle a rise in numbers of the insect prompted by rainstorms which lashed the emirate last week.
Dubai Municipality breeds up to 20,000 fish a year to disrupt breeding hotspots, such as stagnant water ponds, which provide perfect conditions for mosquitoes to thrive.
This year, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and local municipalities, intensified the National Mosquito Control Programme following heavy rain.
The initiative focuses on mitigating public health risks from increased mosquito breeding in stagnant water across construction sites, residential areas and farms.
In Dubai, the municipality has posted specialist teams to identify, survey and treat water accumulation sites.
Their efforts use environmentally friendly biological pesticides, including bacterial tablets and insect growth regulators, to target larval stages effectively.
Part of the measures includes posting larvivorous fish, which feed on mosquito larvae. This helps reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while ensuring the safety of workers, the public and the environment.
“Dubai Municipality implements an integrated pest management programme to address mosquito breeding sites through a combination of preventive and treatment measures,” a representative said.
“The intensive inspection and monitoring campaigns are carried out across water accumulation areas, drainage outlets, stormwater systems, lakes and groundwater accumulation sites throughout the emirate.
“These campaigns aim to assess and record mosquito larval infestation rates and implement immediate control measures.”
While risk of vector-borne disease seen after previous rainstorms remains low - but pest controllers have urged residents to remain vigilant.
Continuing travel restrictions have reduced the number of tourists arriving from tropical regions, where vector-borne diseases are more common and can be imported into the UAE.
Mosquito vector-borne diseases include malaria, dengue, zika, chikungunya and West Nile virus. Although extremely rare in the UAE, cases of dengue fever were reported by hospitals after severe storms swept through the country in 2024.
Despite the low risk this year, pest controllers across the country are working with municipalities to contain potential flash points for a surge in mosquitoes.
“It's really important if you have an open container, fountain or swimming pool that's collecting water, that people understand this is where mosquitoes come and lay their eggs,” said Dinesh Ramachandran, technical and sales manager at Rentokil Boeker.
“It's important that there is no stagnant water in and around the property, and if you're living in an apartment building, just make sure that the balconies don't collect any water.
“If there are plant pots or bird baths, these are some of the containers for mosquitoes to breed in, all they need is stagnant water, just a few millilitres, such as a bottle cap to any large containers.
“They can lay their eggs, anything from 50 to 200 of them, and they start hatching in about 24 to 48 hours. Once there is any water, they start laying eggs.”
Eco-friendly traps
Mosquito traps have been set in communities across the country that mimic human breathing, through a carbon dioxide cylinder which also has a human scent pack.
The trap is designed and coloured in a manner that has a visible cue, so flies and mosquitoes are attracted to it.
A small fan sucks the mosquitoes into the trap, where they are collected in a net inside the device.
While the Anopheles mosquito spreads malaria, the Aedes mosquito is the carrier of dengue and chikungunya. Both species are in the UAE and have the potential to spread disease.
Mosquitoes are more likely to circulate in the evenings once the temperature drops. To avoid bites, it is advised to wear insect repellent or long sleeves and trousers if sitting outside for any length of time.
“We can expect to see a surge in mosquitoes over the next few weeks to months,” said Mr Ramachandran.
“All the authorities have already started sending information to the pest control companies that they've instructed us to start inspecting for stagnant waters, start doing treatments, and send them treatment reports, so they are really taking it seriously. This week, we have seen a big increase in demand for mosquito services.”
Population checks
Municipalities regularly complete demographic studies, collecting information from all the pest control companies reporting into them.
Lush gardens are particular hotspots, as dense greenery is where mosquitoes go to rest. Both female and male adult mosquitoes feed on nectar and need the vegetation for shelter.
Female mosquitoes deliver irritating bites because, after mating, they need blood to nourish their eggs. They can also bite animals such as horses, dogs and chickens.
