Heavy Rainfall Sweeps Through UAE and Oman

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — On Tuesday, torrential rain swept through the United Arab Emirates, causing unprecedented flooding that disrupted traffic, stranded vehicles on key highways, and led to a temporary shutdown of Dubai International Airport, the globe’s premier hub for international flights. The adjacent Oman grappled with its own severe weather challenges as the death toll from flooding reached 18, with more individuals reported missing.

Commencing overnight, the heavy rainfall transformed Dubai’s usually dry roads and airport runways into vast water bodies. The intense rain and gusty winds also caused significant disruptions to flights, especially at Dubai International Airport, where operations were completely halted for approximately 25 minutes in the afternoon. Following this, all incoming flights were redirected until the weather conditions ameliorated.

By the day’s end, the UAE had recorded more than 4.75 inches of rain, equaling the typical annual rainfall for the desert-dominated nation, with forecasts predicting more precipitation. Emergency services were deployed across the region, patrolling inundated streets under the threat of frequent lightning, which notably struck near the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

To manage the crisis, schools throughout the UAE preemptively closed, and the government encouraged remote work for its employees. Some residents, attempting to navigate the flooded roads, found their vehicles incapacitated by unexpectedly deep waters. Emergency crews were dispatched with tanker trucks to pump water from flooded areas, including residential neighborhoods, where locals resorted to manually bailing out water from their homes.

This unusual weather event, part of the cooler winter months’ sporadic rainfall, highlighted the region’s vulnerability due to inadequate drainage infrastructure. The same storm system affected nearby Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, in Oman, the national emergency management agency confirmed the recent storms had claimed the lives of approximately 10 schoolchildren and an adult swept away in a vehicle. The sultanate continues to brace for further impacts as the storm advances.

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Experts attribute these severe weather patterns to climate-induced changes, stressing that global warming is leading to more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather events worldwide.