Heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday lashed the United Arab Emirates (UAE), dumping the heaviest rain ever recorded in the country in the span of hours as it flooded out portions of major highways and Dubai’s international airport.
The state-run WAM news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”
That was before the discovery of crude oil in the nation, which was then part of a British protectorate known as the Trucial States.
Photo: Reuters
The rains began late on Monday, soaking the sands and roadways of Dubai with 20mm of rain, meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport showed.
The storms intensified at about 9am on Tuesday and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain onto the overwhelmed city.
By the end of Tuesday, more than 142mm had soaked Dubai over 24 hours.
An average year sees 94.7mm of rain at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel and a hub for long-haul carrier Emirates.
At the airport, standing water lapped on taxiways as aircraft landed. The airport on Tuesday night halted arrivals and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.
One couple, who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak freely in a country with laws that criminalize critical speech, called the situation at the airport “absolute carnage.”
“You cannot get a taxi. There’s people sleeping in the metro station. There’s people sleeping in the airport,” the man said yesterday.
They got a taxi to near their home about 30km away, but floodwater on the road stopped them.
A bystander helped them over a highway barrier with their luggage.
Dubai International Airport yesterday said that the flooding had left “limited transportation options” and affected flights as aircraft crews could not reach the airfield.
“Recovery will take some time,” the airport wrote on X. “We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges.”
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