Dubai flood: Cars sunk, stores closed, city receives more rain in one day than it does in a year

Dubai flood: Cars sunk, stores closed, city receives more rain in one day than it does in a year

The UAE and Oman, which hosted the COP28 UN climate meetings last year, have both issued earlier warnings that increased floods might be a result of global warming.

Dubai International Airport had to halt operations for twenty-five minutes due to rain. The traffic stopped and the schools were closed.

On April 16, an unusual amount of rain fell on Dubai, resulting in flooding across the UAE and Bahrain and the deaths of eighteen people in Oman. The arid city reportedly got more rain in a single day than it would get in a year and a half.

Both the Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Mall experienced floods. Images shared on social media show that at least one Dubai Metro station had water up to the ankles. A widely shared video saw employees draining water from the high-end Chanel and Fendi boutiques located inside a shopping center. In a different video, the Danish chain of variety stores Flying Tiger saw water smashing into its showroom.

Dubai International Airport had to halt operations for twenty-five minutes due to rain. The traffic stopped and the schools were closed.

The World Meteorological Organization reports that Dubai gets 3.12 inches of rain annually on average. "Dubai is seeing severe flooding as a result of 1.5 years' worth of rain falling in one day. On his X account, climate scientist Colin McCarthy said, "Almost 5 inches (127 mm) fell in 24 hours."

The weather caused the scheduled 24 hour postponement of the Asian Champions League football semi-final between Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Al Ain was to host the match.

Images of vehicles being washed off of roadways and a store ceiling falling were shared by people as water flooded one of Dubai's busiest malls. With emergency lights reflecting off the flooded regions, police and emergency vehicles made their way through the flooded streets. In the midst of the turbulent weather, lightning struck the famed Burj Khalifa as well.

It was necessary for the authorities to use tanker trucks in order to remove water off the streets and roads.

The UAE and Oman, which hosted the COP28 UN climate meetings last year, have both issued earlier warnings that increased floods might be a result of global warming.