Storm aftermath exposes chaos in Dubai after UAE hit by record rains

Dubai is grappling with the consequences of unprecedented heavy rainfall that inundated the arid city. Individuals have shared distressing accounts of spending the night in their vehicles, while air travelers have endured disordered situations at airports.

A record-breaking 259.5mm (10.2in) of rainfall was received by the typically dry United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, marking the highest amount in the country's history of 75 years, which brought much of the country to a standstill and caused significant damage.

The state-run WAM news agency called the rains on Tuesday “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949”.

As the storm settled on Wednesday, with it came the unusual stories of the people who were affected by the heavy downpours.

"This was like nothing else. It was like an alien invasion," Jonathan Richards, a Dubai resident from Britain told Reuters.

"I woke up the other morning to people in kayaks with pet dogs, pet cats, suitcases all outside my house."

“It was one of the most horrific situations I had ever experienced,” one Dubai resident in his 30s told The Guardian after his 15-minute commute turned into a 12-hour ordeal on flooded roads.

"My entire living room is just like ... all my furniture is floating right now," said another resident, Rinku Makhecha.

In the streets of Dubai, a number of vehicles, such as buses, were visible submerged in water, laying bare the world hub’s sewage system.

There were extensive lines at the petrol stations.

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At Dubai's airport, renowned for its high volume of international travel, experienced frequent and repetitive flight delays and cancellations, as the storm flooded taxiways.

A significant gathering assembled at a service counter, expressing their dissatisfaction through applause and whistling while patiently anticipating updates.

“They are completely lost, it’s complete chaos – no information, nothing,” fumed one passenger, after a 12-hour wait, Agence France-Presse reported.

Dubai’s flagship airline, Emirates posted on X on Wednesday night: “Customers should expect delays with departures and arrivals” and that while some passengers had been able to get to their destinations “we are aware that many are still waiting to get on flights”.

All check-ins were cancelled by the Emirates, and it was announced that services will remain suspended until Thursday morning.

Emirates sincerely apologizes for the inconvenience caused by these disruptions. Passengers traveling with FlyDubai, the low-cost sister airline of Emirates, also experienced delays.

After the Tuesday calamity, inquiries were made regarding the possibility that the heavy rains could have been a result of cloud seeding, a practice that is often carried out by the UAE.

But authorities denied conducting any such operations before the storm, while climate experts blamed global warming for such extreme weather events.

Scientists predict that global warming will result in elevated temperatures, rising humidity levels, and an increased likelihood of flooding in certain areas of the Gulf region.

Nations such as the UAE, which lack proper drainage systems to handle intense rainfall, may experience the most severe impacts.

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