DUBAI: A rare and intense rainstorm lashed the United Arab Emirates on Friday, flooding roads in major cities and forcing the cancellation and delay of dozens of flights across the country.
Dubai’s Emirates airline cancelled 13 flights, while neighbouring Sharjah airport also reported multiple delays and cancellations following overnight downpours accompanied by lightning and thunder. Airport authorities said operations were disrupted due to adverse weather conditions.
In Sharjah, large stretches of the main road were submerged early Friday, with residents seen wading through knee-deep water. The scenes revived memories of April 2024, when record rainfall paralysed Dubai, flooded large parts of the city and led to the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights at Dubai International Airport.
Ahead of the storm, Dubai Police had urged residents to remain indoors unless travel was essential. By early Friday, water-pumping trucks were deployed across Dubai to clear flooded roads and remove standing water.
Dubai Airports confirmed that dozens of flights were delayed and several cancelled, citing the severe weather. The National Centre of Meteorology had earlier warned of widespread rainfall from Thursday through Friday, affecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other parts of the country.
Heavy rain was also reported in other Gulf states, including Qatar, where the Arab Cup third-place playoff between Saudi Arabia and the UAE was cancelled on Thursday due to adverse weather conditions.
By AFP
