Dubai flooded: Heavy rain, thunderstorms disrupt life in UAE; flights cancelled, traffic affected

Several parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are battered by heavy rain, thunderstorms and hail. The adverse weather condition on December 18 and 19 was caused by “Al Bashayer” low-pressure system. It led to major disruption to road and air traffic. Dubai International Airport (DXB) saw several flights cancelled and delayed, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

People were stuck as many roads were flooded and visibility dropped significantly. Traffic slowed across Dubai and Sharjah, with reports of congestion and minor accidents in several areas. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) and the police departments issued warnings and advised residents to stay indoors and avoid flood prone areas.

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Many flight were cancelled due to heavy rain, strong winds and poor visibility. Airlines including Emirates and Flydubai cancelled or rescheduled many flights as a precaution. Emirates cancelled several flights on December 19 heading to Tehran, Frankfurt and Colombo from Dubai International Airport.

Several flights were also delayed due to strong winds and low visibility. Flooded roads around the airport also caused problems, making it difficult for passengers and airline staff to reach the terminals on time.

Several parts of Dubai witnessed traffic disruption as roads were waterlogged. Busy routes like Sheikh Zayed Road and First Al Khail Street saw vehicles moving at a slow pace. Dubai Police warned commuters about the risk of vehicles skidding on wet roads and advised to drive carefully.

Sharjah also witnessed flooded roads and major highways like Emirates Road and Al Ittihad Road, which connect Sharjah to Dubai, saw heavy congestion due to waterlogging and accidents. Several internal roads, including Al Taawun Street, were also submerged, which increased the travel times by two to three times. Emergency teams were sent to pump water out of low-lying areas to prevent flooding and restore traffic movement.