Chaos unfolded in the United Arab Emirates as the country experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, with some areas receiving over 250 mm of precipitation in less than 24 hours, as stated by the state’s media office on Wednesday.
This unprecedented rainfall flooded streets, uprooted palm trees, and caused extensive damage to building facades, marking an event unseen in the nation since records began in 1949. In Dubai, a popular tourist destination, airlines canceled flights, traffic came to a standstill, and authorities shut down schools.
Within just 12 hours on Tuesday, 100 mm of rain fell at the airport, equivalent to Dubai’s annual precipitation, according to United Nations data. The intensity of the downpour forced motorists to abandon their vehicles as floodwaters transformed roads into rivers.
Extreme rainfall events like this are increasingly common due to human-driven climate change, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and result in flooding rainfall. The weather conditions linked a larger storm system moving across the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf of Oman, bringing unusual wet weather to Oman and southeastern Iran.
In Oman, heavy rain triggered flash floods that claimed at least 18 lives, including schoolchildren, according to the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management. Tragically, flooding swept away the vehicle of a 70-year-old man in the UAE’s Ras Al-Khaimah, resulting in his death.
The rainfall extended eastward on Wednesday, impacting parts of southern Iran and Pakistan, regions unaccustomed to significant rainfall at this time of year. Chabahar, Iran’s southernmost city, recorded 130 mm of rain in the Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Residents attempting to travel into Dubai’s center on Wednesday found themselves trapped on the highway. Sofie, a Dubai resident, recounted being stranded outside her home for nearly 12 hours, some spent sleeping in her car as roads remained submerged.
Taxi drivers refused to navigate the blocked roads, leaving commuters stranded on Dubai’s main artery. Some stranded individuals, including attendees of the World Blockchain Summit, resorted to walking through giant puddles in search of alternative transportation.
