Parts of the United Arab Emirates witnessed heavy rain early on Friday morning. Roads were inundated due to the heavy rainfall, leading to disruption of traffic movement and delays to several flights.
Heavy rains bring tourist hubs to standstill
Authorities urged people to stay indoors, as the torrential rains brought popular tourist destinations to a standstill. The region normally does not receive rainfall of such magnitude, and authorities described the situation as “intense.” The cities are otherwise preparing to welcome tourists for the holiday season.
Now, leaders in the UAE are planning to handle heavy rains and floods in a better manner, as such climate events are being repeated.
Downpour floods low-lying areas in Dubai
Dubai witnessed a heavy downpour, while Abu Dhabi experienced thunderstorms. Authorities urged motorists to avoid flood-prone areas. Several low-lying areas were inundated on Friday morning.
The government asked employees to work remotely and urged private companies to follow the same advisory. Similar instructions were issued to residents in Abu Dhabi, asking them to stay indoors.
Dubai infrastructure tested by torrential downpours
The Gulf region often witnesses intense weather events. Torrential rainfall over short spells causes waterlogging and disrupts normal life. The city’s infrastructure has been designed for arid conditions, meaning the drainage system does not function effectively when Dubai receives a large volume of rainfall in a short period.
Climate-resilient infrastructure needed
In April 2024, heavy rainfall had already exposed shortcomings in urban planning when streets were flooded, and Friday’s rains once again highlighted the same concerns. If such events occur every year, authorities will need to develop climate-resilient infrastructure to cope with the situation.
Authorities have put in place emergency response measures to handle rain-related incidents in the city. Advisories were already issued urging residents to stay indoors over the weekend.
On December 18, IndiGo issued an advisory for passengers, warning that flight operations could be impacted as heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were expected.
