UAE weather live: Emirates hit by severe storms
Dubai International Airport said all arrivals would be diverted elsewhere due to the treacherous weather.
All departures will continue despite the rain and thunder engulfing the UAE on Tuesday.
“We are temporarily diverting arriving flights this evening until the weather conditions improve. Departures will continue to operate,” the airport, known as DXB, announced on social media platform X.
“Together with our partners, we’re working to restore normal operations and minimise inconvenience to you.”
Airline Flydubai said it was suspending all departures from DXB until 10am on April 17.
"All flydubai flights scheduled for departure from Dubai this evening (April 16) have been cancelled effective immediately until 10am (Dubai local time) on April 17," said a representative of the airline.
"During this period, passengers who do not have Dubai as their final destination will not be accepted for travel. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update our schedule accordingly.
"This will allow us to restore operational continuity more efficiently and accommodate arriving flights from around the network where possible."
UAE authorities on Tuesday urged the public to remain indoors amid severe storms sweeping the Emirates.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said people should only leave their homes in “extreme necessity” in a safety alert.
Dubai Airports said 17 flights were cancelled on Tuesday due to the weather.
Weather warnings remain in place after large parts of the UAE were lashed by torrential rain and thunderstorms in the early hours of Tuesday.
And the Dubai government has extended remote working for employees until Wednesday, while private schools in the emirate have also been directed to continue remote learning.
Private sector entities have also been urged to adopt remote working for an additional day to ensure safety.
Heavy downpours were recorded in Abu Dhabi and Dubai shortly after midnight as thunder woke people in the cities and lightning lit up the skies.
Intense rain continued in Dubai for several hours on Tuesday morning in what weather experts warned was the “first wave” of stormy weather set for the Emirates during the day.
Conditions eased later in the morning before the Emirates was hit by a fresh flurry of rainfall shortly before 3pm.
Traffic disruption
Widespread flooding was reported on roads due to the continued rainfall, while flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were experiencing delays.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority advised motorists using Al Asayel Street and First Al Khail Street, coming from Business Bay towards Jebel Ali, to use alternative routes such as Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.
The authority also warned of expected delays on Umm Suqeim street, with drivers asked to travel on Hessa Street instead.
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road was earlier brought to a standstill as rainwater flooded stretches of the motorway.
The RTA said it had response teams in place to deal with disruption caused by the persistent rain.
The authority said the Dubai Metro operating hours would be extended until 3am on Wednesday to support commuters who required alternative transport.
The National Centre of Meteorology issued yellow and orange alerts for much of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, cautioning that “hazardous weather events” were expected to last until 6pm on Wednesday.
It forecast further rainfall, thunder and hail throughout the morning and the evening and said winds could reach 70kph.
Several roads were closed in the Northern Emirates, while landslides were reported in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain.
Ajman's Muzaireh dam flooded after intense rain in the emirate.
Ajman Municipality urged the public to avoid flooded areas during the unstable weather.
The storms are expected to reach their peak on Tuesday, with conditions gradually easing on Wednesday.
The NCM said motorists should “avoid driving unless absolutely necessary” and to exercise caution if travelling.
Several public parks and beaches across the Emirates will be closed on Tuesday.
Flights cancelled
Significant disruption was caused to flights travelling in and out of Dubai.
“Dubai Airports can confirm that normal operations at Dubai International have been affected due to inclement weather conditions on Tuesday, 16 April, with some delays to arriving and departing flights,” a Dubai Airports official said.
“Consequently, a total of nine outbound and eight inbound flights were cancelled this morning, and three flights were diverted to other neighbouring airports, one of which has since returned to DXB.
“We urge guests to check directly with their airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight, allow extra travel time to the airport, and use Dubai Metro for smoother transit. We are actively collaborating with our service partners and airlines to minimise any inconvenience experienced by our valued guests.”
The weather forced flydubai to cancel flights, while several other journeys were delayed.
“We are working hard to minimise any impact on our passengers’ travel schedules and are coordinating with all parties at the airport,” the airline said.
“We will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and advise our passengers to arrive at the airport sufficiently before their flight times and check the flight status via the company’s website.”
Emirates Airline had urged travellers to plan ahead warning there could be delays on the roads leading to the airport.
“Due to adverse weather conditions forecast in Dubai on 16 and 17 April, customers headed to Dubai International Airport may experience road delays,” Emirates said.
“Plan for extra travel time to reach the airport, and complete check-in formalities before arrival for added convenience.”
Etihad Airways, the UAE's national airline, also said that some flights may be delayed due to the adverse weather.
“Due to the potential of adverse weather including heavy rains in Abu Dhabi from 15 to 16 April, some Etihad Airways flights may be delayed,” the airline said.
“Guests are advised to regularly check etihad.com for the latest information about their flight departure and allow plenty of time to travel to the airport.
“Etihad will be working closely with guests affected by any disruption to assist them with changes to their itineraries and to reach their final destination.”
Speed limits cut
Abu Dhabi Police temporarily reduced speed limits to 100kph on several roads on Tuesday, including the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road.
The force advised motorists to “exercise caution due to the rainy weather and to follow the changing speed limits displayed on electronic information boards”.
Storm Centre, a popular UAE weather monitoring account, shared footage of the weather on X, including thick clouds looming over Abu Dhabi and flooded valleys.
Nationwide response
Schools across the Emirates closed on Tuesday due to the conditions.
Pupils will study from home in online classes, in a model set up during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Dubai, government employees will work from home on Tuesday, with some other public sector departments expected to do the same.
Nationwide, government school pupils will study from home until Thursday. Sharjah announced the same for private schools. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, private schools closed on Tuesday.
It is up to private sector companies to decide whether employees should work from home, but the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation urged anyone with outdoor workers to take precautions.
Remote working for all government employees, except those whose presence in the workplace is necessary, was announced on Monday night by state news agency Wam.
More wet weather to come
Dr Ahmed Habib of the NCM told The National on Monday that the stormy weather would occur in two stages.
“The first wave of the weather condition will see the formation of cumulus clouds in the southern and coastal areas by this evening [Monday], increasing in intensity before spreading to major cities in Abu Dhabi, followed by Dubai and the Northern Emirates, bringing varied intensities of rain, most of which will be heavy, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and possibly hail,” he said.
“The second wave of the low-pressure system will begin around noon on Tuesday, with the rain becoming heavier in Al Dhafra, then moving towards Abu Dhabi during the late hours and extending towards Dubai and the Northern Emirates, continuing until Wednesday morning before it starts to recede in the afternoon.”
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The%20specs
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The%20specs
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Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
