Police in Abu Dhabi issued a warning to motorists as parts of the country were hit by heavy rain on Sunday evening.
The message from police came after UAE authorities had earlier on Sunday urged the public to be on the alert, with heavy rain and high winds expected to sweep across much of the country in the coming days.
"Abu Dhabi Police call on motorists to exercise caution due to the rainy weather and to follow the changing speed limits displayed on electronic information boards. Drive Safely," the force said in a post on social media platform X on Sunday evening.
The warning from police came as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) shared footage of parts of the country being struck by heavy rain and floods on Sunday.
The NCM's latest online weather map predicts heavy rainfall in parts of the Abu Dhabi emirate, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on Sunday.
The weather bureau says that winds could reach speeds of up to 55kph in some areas, kicking up dust and cutting visibility.
The NCM shared footage of the wet weather on its social media channels on Sunday, including this video below from Ras Al Khaimah.
The NCM on Sunday issued a yellow alert over rain and dusty conditions in prospect over areas of Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.
The safety notice - in effect until 9pm - calls on residents to be "on the look out" over unsettled weather when outdoors.
A more severe orange alert was put in place for areas of Fujairah, warning that hazardous weather events are expected.
Storm Centre, a social media account that tracks weather in the Emirates, shared footage on Sunday morning of rain in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Fujairah, amid leaden skies.
The account had on Saturday posted clips of drivers navigating wet conditions and citizens enjoying streams of water flowing through a wadi as rain lashed eastern regions of the country.
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Waterlogged streets after heavy rain in the Al Furjan area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Tankers help to clear water from the streets in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
A flooded road in the Discovery Gardens area. Pawan Singh / The National -
Heavy rain led to flooding in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National -
A car struggles through the water in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Water is pumped from waterlogged streets in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National -
Large puddles in a residential neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The aftermath of heavy rain in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Overcast skies on Friday above Mina Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Heavy rain and strong winds brought flooding to Umm Suquim Street in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Morning commuters plough through flooded streets in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dubai commuters faced a difficult journey to work early on Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Morning thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Wet weather in Dubai on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Some road surfaces were engulfed. Antonie Robertson / The National -
It was heavy going for those on foot. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A tree felled by heavy rain and winds. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Driving conditions were difficult on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National -
People shelter from the rain under umbrellas. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National -
Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National -
Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
Authorities monitor weather
The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (Ncema) said on Friday it was “closely monitoring developments in the expected weather over the coming days”.
It issued a safety warning for northern, eastern and western regions over wet weather and strong winds, which it said could cause “flying debris and reduced visibility”.
Rough seas are also in store in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, the authority said.
Ncema said people should follow updates and warnings issued by the NCM through official channels during the adverse weather.
It called on the public to avoid waterlogged areas during rainfall, and exercise caution to ensure public safety.
More rain on the way
The NCM's five-day weather chart forecast some rainfall on Saturday in Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, before more severe downpours in the Emirates on Sunday.
It is expected to remain dry in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on both Monday and Tuesday, though conditions could be cloudy on Wednesday.
More heavy rain is forecast for the Northern Emirates on Monday and Tuesday, the NCM's weather map shows.
More fog is expected to roll in across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, hindering visibility on the roads for early morning commuters.
