Record Rainfall in UAE: Dubai in Chaos as Streets Flood

Chaos swept through the United Arab Emirates as it faced the most intense rainfall in 75 years, with certain regions recording over 250 mm (approximately 10 inches) of rain within a mere 24-hour period, as per the state’s media office statement released on Wednesday, April 17.

This unprecedented downpour, causing floods, uprooting palm trees, and damaging building structures, marks a historic event in the nation’s meteorological records dating back to 1949. In Dubai, a renowned tourist hub, the deluge led to flight cancellations, gridlocked traffic, and the closure of schools.

Within a span of 12 hours on Tuesday, meteorological data from the airport indicated a staggering 100 millimeters (nearly 4 inches) of rainfall – an amount typically accumulated over an entire year in Dubai according to United Nations statistics.

The intensity and rapidity of the rain left some drivers with no choice but to abandon their vehicles as streets transformed into waterways due to rising floodwaters.

Such extreme rainfall occurrences are increasingly frequent as the atmosphere heats up due to human-induced climate change. The warmer atmosphere has a higher capacity to absorb moisture, akin to a saturated towel wringing out water in the form of flooding rains.

These weather conditions are attributed to a larger storm system traversing the Arabian Peninsula and crossing the Gulf of Oman. This same system is responsible for the unusual wet conditions affecting neighboring Oman and southeastern Iran.

In Oman, heavy rain triggered flash floods that claimed at least 18 lives, as reported by the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management. Tragically, among the casualties were schoolchildren, according to Oman’s state news agency.

The government on Tuesday issued a red warning, shuttering offices, school and banks across the country. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Authority warned residents to stay home and park vehicles in elevated spots away from flood-prone areas.

Hundred of cars were left abandoned on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Highway as drivers’ engines died while water rose around them. The city’s metro became an impromptu overnight shelter, as people working in and around some stations couldn’t get home.

While water levels in some areas are receding and parts of the city are completely dry, some are still too submerged for maintenance and repair services to access. Police cars are blocking certain roads deemed too dangerous, while pumping trucks are working to empty the streets of water.

A massive cleanup is underway and will have to continue for some time. The UAE’s Ministry of Interior on Wednesday evening announced the “end of the weather fluctuations” and said efforts continue to “complete the recovery phase.” Field work teams will “continue their intensive efforts to ensure full recovery and the return of life to normal in all affected areas,” the ministry’s statement said.

Dubai’s airport was a scene of chaos, as frustrated travelers were told they would be unable to fly. The airport urged travelers not to come to the airport unless absolutely necessary, and suspended check-ins until Thursday morning.

For those who landed before arriving flights were suspended, getting home was also an endeavor.

“The airport staff told everyone to get onto the metro for two stops and then to get on the bus replacement service … We got there and there was no replacement service,” one British resident of Dubai coming back from a holiday told CNBC. “Seemed like the airport was just trying to offload bodies further down the line … eventually our mate came in a pickup and got us back home.”

In a statement, a Dubai Airports spokesperson said the airport was “working to restore operations as swiftly as possible amidst these challenging circumstances,” and said that “due to crowding, access to Terminal 1 is now strictly limited to passengers with confirmed departures.” It added that “there are no rebooking facilities available at the terminal.”