storm
Floods in Dubai: Heaviest rain since 1949
Vehicles stand abandoned in floodwaters on a main road in Dubai. photo
© Jon Gambrell/AP/dpa
Parts of Dubai are under water, streets are turning into lakes. The rains in the Emirates are described as “historic”. Even operators of one of the largest airports in the world are overwhelmed.
The heaviest rain in decades has occurred in the United Arab Emirates and parts of the metropolis Dubai flooded. The Center for Meteorology said it was the heaviest rainfall since records began 75 years ago. In the capital Abu Dhabi, schools, government institutions and companies were asked to learn and work from home. The state agency WAM spoke of a “historic weather event”.
The Emirates is a desert state on the Arabian Peninsula with a mostly dry climate. Instead of rain, the country is struggling with increasing heat. Temperatures of over 50 degrees have been measured here and in neighboring countries in recent years. Many areas lack infrastructure and drainage systems to deal with heavy rain.
The operators of Dubai Airport, which was one of the largest in the world with 87 million passengers last year, were also overwhelmed by the masses of water.
“We advise you not to come to the airport unless absolutely necessary,” Dubai Airport said in a statement. Flights are delayed or diverted. The operators spoke of a “significant disruption” and a “very challenging situation”.
Check-in in Dubai was completely suspended for all travelers on state airline Emirates on Wednesday.
After heavy rainfall, parts of Dubai were completely under water. Dozens of cars got stuck in the water on highways, as seen in videos on social networks.
Traffic came to a standstill on Wednesday morning on one of the most important highways that runs along the coast through the city of 3.6 million inhabitants. According to a report in The National newspaper, some left their cars in the water and continued on foot.
The Center for Meteorology called for people to avoid flooded areas. In a subway station, water was up to passengers’ ankles.
In neighboring Oman, at least 20 people died after heavy rains. There has reportedly been one death in the Emirates – an elderly man died when his vehicle was swept away by water.
The Emirates hosted the COP28 global climate conference in Dubai in 2023.