Dubai Flooded as UAE Receives Over a Year’s Rainfall in a Matter of Hours

Intense thunderstorms battered the United Arab Emirates (UAE), unleashing a deluge that surpassed a year and a half’s worth of rain on Dubai, the desert city-state, within a few hours, leading to widespread flooding on major highways and at its international airport.

The downpour commenced late on Monday, April 15, 2024  saturating the sands and thoroughfares of Dubai with approximately 20mm (0.79 inches) of rain, as per meteorological records from Dubai International Airport.

The storm escalated around 9 am (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday, April 16 and persisted throughout the day, inundating the overwhelmed city with more rain and hail.

By Tuesday’s conclusion, Dubai had received over 142mm (5.59 inches) of rainfall, far exceeding the average annual precipitation of 94.7mm (3.73 inches) recorded at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international travel and a pivotal hub for Emirates, the long-haul carrier.

At the airport, water accumulated on taxiways as arriving aircraft navigated through the deluge. Eventually, arrivals were suspended on Tuesday night, and passengers encountered challenges accessing terminals amidst the floodwater engulfing adjacent roads.

Acknowledging the transportation disruptions, Dubai International Airport stated on Wednesday, April 17 2024 morning that the flooding had led to “limited transportation options” and impacted flight operations due to crews’ inability to access the airfield.

Emirates announced the suspension of passenger check-in at Dubai International Airport from 8 am to midnight on Wednesday due to operational constraints stemming from the relentless rainfall.

“Recovery will take some time,” conveyed the airport via the X social platform. “We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges.”

Preemptive measures were taken across the UAE, with schools closing ahead of the storm, and government employees transitioning to remote work.

While some individuals ventured out, others remained indoors, with unfortunate motorists finding themselves stranded in deeper-than-anticipated water, stalling their vehicles’ engines.

The overall extent of damage incurred was not disclosed by authorities. In Ras al-Khaimah, the UAE’s northernmost emirate, police reported the unfortunate death of a 70-year-old man after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters.

Fujairah, situated on the UAE’s eastern coast, witnessed the most substantial rainfall on Tuesday, with 145mm (5.7 inches) recorded in the region.