Dubai, a modern desert city, faces the challenge of clearing waterlogged roads and drying out flooded homes following a record storm that saw a year's rain fall in a day.
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| Dubai floods 2024 |
Dubai International Airport is grappling with a backlog of flights and numerous roads remain flooded following a recent storm.
The United Arab Emirates experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, causing significant damage and bringing much of the country to a standstill.
Flooding has caused traffic congestion, office closures, and home leaks, with social media footage showing malls overrun with water pouring from roofs.
Despite the resumption of public transportation services in Dubai, the UAE's most populous emirate, traffic remained disrupted.
Heavy congestion was caused by street closures, detours, and partially submerged roads, with some cars driving towards oncoming traffic to avoid flooded areas.
Dubai's highway has been reduced to a single lane in one direction, while the main road connecting the city to Abu Dhabi is partially closed in both directions.
Jonathan Richards, a British resident of Dubai, described the situation as an alien invasion.
The speaker woke up to people in kayaks with pet dogs, cats, and suitcases outside their house.
Rinku Makhecha, a resident, reported that her recently renovated house was swamped by rain two weeks ago.
She stated that her living room is currently filled with furniture that is floating.
Vehicles, including buses, were abandoned on streets and some submerged in water, while supermarkets and restaurants in Abu Dhabi experienced product shortages due to delayed deliveries from Dubai.
Dubai airport's normal operations were disrupted by a storm that flooded taxiways, causing flight diversions, delays, and cancellations.
Dubai Airports Chief Operating Officer Majed Al Joker predicts the airport will reach 60-70% capacity by Thursday's end and full operational capacity within 24 hours.
The airport faced difficulties in providing food to stranded passengers due to flooding and limited access to confirmed bookings due to overcrowding.
Returning supplies
A storm hit Oman on Sunday and pounded the UAE on Tuesday, causing 20 deaths in Oman and one in the UAE.
Delivery services in Dubai, accustomed to quick ordering, are gradually returning to the streets, despite some flooded roadways in hard-hit communities.
The UAE and other Arabian Peninsula regions experience a dry desert climate with rare rains and high summer temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
The UAE's frequent cloud seeding process has been questioned as it may have contributed to the heavy rains that occurred on Tuesday.
Climate experts attribute extreme weather events to global warming.
Climate change is predicted to increase temperatures, humidity, and flood risk in Gulf regions, particularly in countries like the UAE, where inadequate drainage infrastructure is needed to handle heavy rains.
The UAE government agency responsible for cloud seeding, which involves manipulating clouds to increase rainfall, has denied any such operations prior to a storm.
President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered authorities to assess the damage and provide support to families affected by the storm.
Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors on X.
At a meeting with Dubai government officials, directives were set to prepare comprehensive plans for natural crises, including unexpected weather conditions.