UAE weather: Rain falls in Abu Dhabi as Emirates braces for drop in temperatures

Heavy rain was recorded in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi on Thursday

Rain falls in Al Dhafra on Thursday. Photo: Storm Centre

Heavy rain fell over the Abu Dhabi desert on Thursday, with more wet weather, fog and dust expected to sweep across parts of the country in the coming days.

Storm Centre, a popular social media account tracking UAE weather, shared a video on Thursday afternoon of a road flooded after downpours in Al Dhafra region.

Al Dhafra, in the western region of Abu Dhabi, accounts for about two-thirds of the emirate by total area, made up of sprawling desert, beaches and a network of islands.

The National Centre of Meteorology said further rainfall was recorded in remote island areas of the capital during the morning and afternoon.

The adverse weather will come as a welcome relief for many across the Emirates, including farmers who seek to cultivate crops in an often challenging climate.

While bouts of rain across the UAE are not uncommon – especially in the Northern Emirates – the UAE has an arid desert climate. The country typically receives about 150 millimetres of rainfall annually.

Last week, President Sheikh Mohamed issued a call for rain prayers – also known as Salat Al Istisqa – to be observed.

The tradition is performed across the Gulf. When rainfall is delayed, an order for the prayers to be performed is issued by a nation’s leader.

Worshippers turned out at mosques all over the Emirates on Saturday to answer the call of the President.

More rain on the way?

The NCM's latest five-day bulletin forecasts unsettled conditions to come, as the UAE's winter season takes hold. The weather centre said more rain was forecast in northern and island areas on Saturday.

Fog is expected to roll in on Friday morning, with high winds on dusty weather also on the way over the weekend and into early next week.

The NCM projects a 'significant decrease' in temperatures from Monday. Temperatures will settle in the high to mid-twenties for the rest of the week, according to the bureau, but will drop to 23ºC in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Monday.