Dubai has been severely affected by heavy rain and storms, leading to widespread flooding across the desert nation. The record-breaking rainfall has caused chaos, with delayed or diverted flights and stranded cars on flooded roads.
The situation at Dubai Airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, has been disrupted, prompting authorities to advise passengers against traveling unless necessary. More than 500 flights, both inbound and outbound, have been diverted, delayed, or canceled due to the adverse weather conditions.
Emirates Airline, Dubai’s flagship carrier, has suspended all check-ins for passengers for the day due to the travel chaos caused by the inclement weather. The airline is striving to restore scheduled operations and is committed to providing support to affected customers.
In addition to transportation disruptions, flagship shopping centers like Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates have suffered flooding, and water levels at Metro stations have risen, making travel challenging for commuters. Metro trains are operating on specific routes due to maintenance work at stations on the Red and Green lines.
The impact of the storm extends beyond Dubai, affecting the entire UAE and neighboring Bahrain, where similar scenes of flooding and chaos have been witnessed. In response to this, authorities have closed schools and extended remote working arrangements for government employees as further storms, including hail, are forecasted.
The severity of the storms in the UAE follows similar weather patterns in Oman, where 18 people, including several children, lost their lives due to heavy rainfall. This recent downpour in Oman has been described as the highest since records began in 1949, highlighting the urgency of climate action.
Both Oman and the UAE, hosts of significant international climate conferences, have warned of the increased risk of flooding due to global warming. Residents have been urged to take precautions and avoid flooded areas to ensure their safety amidst the ongoing weather challenges.
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