Heavy rain in Dubai leads officials to caution residents against going out due to flood risks
Following heavy rainfall on Thursday, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, also released weather alerts.
Dubai police have warned residents to stay indoors as heavy rains continue to fall in the desert nation. The downpours on Thursday followed record rainfall last year that left the city submerged.
“For your safety, please be careful, as the weather is expected to remain unstable in the coming hours, and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary until Friday afternoon,” a police alert sent to residents’ phones said, according to AFP.
The United Arab Emirates’ National Center for Meteorology has issued a warning of heavy rain on Thursday and Friday, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The UAE, along with Gulf countries Qatar and Saudi Arabia, issued weather alerts on Thursday following heavy rainfall.
According to a report by Khaleej Times, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence also urged residents to exercise caution amid the changing weather conditions.
The authorities appealed to people to take necessary precautions and remain vigilant during the rain. Abu Dhabi authorities also advised residents to avoid areas prone to flash flooding.
The Burj Khalifa and surrounding high-rises vanish into a blanket of clouds
Amid the weather alerts, several videos on the social media platform X showed the iconic Burj Khalifa and other tall buildings in Dubai obscured by thick clouds.
In 2024, the UAE experienced record-breaking rainfall, bringing Dubai and other cities to a standstill. The downpour, which occurred in April, flooded homes and turned streets into rivers.
The unprecedented rainfall, exacerbated by inadequate storm drains, also disrupted operations at Dubai Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs for international passengers.
Dubai Airports‘ website showed that dozens of flights were delayed and some were canceled on Friday. A spokesperson for Dubai Airports said, “Some flights are experiencing cancellations or delays due to adverse weather conditions.”
The National Center of Meteorology had issued a weather warning for rain across the country, including Dubai and the capital Abu Dhabi, from Thursday to Friday.
Other Gulf countries also experienced heavy rainfall, including Qatar, where the third-place play-off match of the Arab Cup football tournament between Saudi Arabia and the UAE was canceled on Thursday.
Last year’s heavy rains in the UAE, the heaviest recorded in 76 years, killed at least four people and brought Dubai to a standstill for several days.
A study by the World Weather Attribution group found that global warming caused by fossil fuel emissions “likely” intensified the heavy rainfall in the UAE and Oman last year.
