Dubai experienced catastrophic flooding on the night of April 16 and 17, causing significant disruptions and prompting desperate families to evacuate.
The flooding led to extensive damage, including submerged roads and stranded passengers at Dubai International Airport, the busiest hub for international travel.
Airport Chaos and Travel Disruptions
Nearly 50 flights to and from Dubai were canceled as a result of the flood, with aircrafts seen cutting through water at Dubai International Airport.
Videos from inside the airport depicted passengers sleeping on floors, waiting for any available flights out of the inundated city. Roads leading to the airport were submerged, causing significant disruptions, with luxury vehicles barely navigating the floodwaters.
Dubai airport's official Twitter account issued a warning early this morning due to the ongoing chaos: "We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary. Flights continue to be delayed and diverted. Please check your flight status directly with your airline. We are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions."
Urban Flooding and Property Damage
Luxury cars were seen submerged, and city streets transformed into rivers, with residents using jet skis to navigate through neighborhoods. Both the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates experienced significant flooding, forcing visitors to wade through waterlogged facilities.
City authorities recommended that residents stay indoors after receiving 4.7 inches of rain on Tuesday—equivalent to its annual average.
The skies over Dubai darkened significantly by mid-afternoon on April 16 as the storm intensified. Lightning could be seen flashing across the sky, occasionally striking the tip of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
Schools across the UAE were closed in anticipation of the storm, and government employees were advised to work remotely.
To manage the flooding, authorities deployed tanker trucks to pump water from the streets.
The National Center of Meteorology indicated that unstable weather conditions were expected to persist through Wednesday.
Regional Weather Anomalies
The unusual weather also affected neighboring regions, with rain reported in Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
In neighboring Oman, heavy rains in recent days have killed at least 18 people, according to a statement on Tuesday from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. This toll includes about 10 schoolchildren and an adult swept away while in a vehicle.
