A powerful rainstorm swept across the United Arab Emirates, disrupting air travel and flooding roads in several major cities. The unusual weather event brought heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning to the desert nation, catching residents and authorities off guard.
Airport operations faced major disruption as airlines cancelled and delayed dozens of flights. Roads in Dubai and Sharjah turned into waterways, forcing commuters to wade through flooded streets and authorities to issue safety advisories.
The storm revived memories of last year’s historic floods, raising fresh concerns over extreme weather events in the region.
UAE Floods: Flights Cancelled & Delayed at Airports
Air traffic took a direct hit as the storm intensified overnight. Emirates airline cancelled 13 flights on Friday, while several others faced delays. Operations were also disrupted at Sharjah International Airport, where flight schedules changed due to poor weather conditions.
The Dubai Airports website showed widespread delays and cancellations throughout the day. “Some flights… are cancelled or delayed due to adverse weather,” a Dubai Airports spokesperson said. Passengers faced long waits as airport staff worked to manage schedules and ensure safety.
UAE Floods: Roads Flooded in Dubai and Sharjah
Heavy rainfall caused waterlogging across key urban areas. In Sharjah, the city’s main street flooded early Friday morning. Residents were seen walking barefoot through knee-deep water. One man even cycled through the flooded road, with water reaching the top of his bicycle wheels.
In Dubai, several roads remained blocked due to water accumulation. Authorities deployed water-pumping trucks to clear streets and reduce traffic disruption. The flooding caused slow movement across the cities during peak hours.
UAE Floods: Authorities Issue Safety Warnings
Ahead of the storm, Dubai Police urged residents to limit travel. On Thursday, police advised people to stay indoors unless travel was “absolutely necessary” as weather conditions worsened.
Emergency teams remained on alert through the night. Municipal workers focused on draining water from low-lying areas and keeping major roads accessible.
Weather Warning Issued Across the UAE
The National Centre of Meteorology had forecast rainfall across the UAE from Thursday to Friday. The warning covered major cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Other Gulf countries also saw unusual weather. In Qatar, heavy rain led to the cancellation of the Arab Cup football third-place play-off between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Thursday. The widespread impact highlighted how rare such intense rainfall remains in the region.
Memories of 2024 Floods Resurface
The latest storm brought back memories of April 2024, when record rainfall caused widespread chaos across the UAE. That event forced the cancellation of over 2,000 flights at Dubai International Airport and left parts of the city submerged for days. Last year’s floods killed at least four people and marked the heaviest rainfall recorded in the UAE in 76 years.
A study by the World Weather Attribution group later found that climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions “most likely” intensified the extreme rainfall in the UAE and Oman.
Why This Rainstorm Matters?
While Friday’s storm caused fewer disruptions than last year, it again exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure during extreme weather. Experts warn that such events may become more frequent.
For now, authorities continue to monitor conditions as cleanup efforts remain underway and flights gradually resume normal schedules.