UAE hit by month of rain in a day - with more wet weather to come

Ras Al Khaimah drenched by 12mm of rain in hours on Sunday, exceeding December average

Clean-up operations under way in Dubai after a bout of rain on Sunday. Antonie Robertson / The National

Ras Al Khaimah was hit by more than a month of rain in a day on Sunday, as stormy winter weather swept across the Emirates.

The National Centre of Meteorology said it recorded 12.5mm of rain during daytime hours at the emirate's Saqr Port, well above the historical average of 8.7mm for the month.

It was the highest amount of rainfall across the country in a weekend as Dubai and the Northern Emirates witnessed the start of a December deluge, which is forecast to continue until the end of this week.

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The UAE often receives fewer than 100mm of rain annually, with this figure falling to only 39.4mm in 2021 and 51.5mm in 2023.

Last year proved a striking exception to the norm, due to the unprecedented April storms that caused flooding across much of the country.

The UAE experienced its largest day of rainfall in 75 years on April 16, 2024. In Al Ain alone 254mm fell, the equivalent of two years' average.

The NCM released details on the unstable conditions as it warned of more downpours in prospect in the coming days.

The weather centre said the “main rainfall wave” was expected to hit the Emirates on Thursday and Friday, in its latest update.

The severe conditions are forecast to set in over the western regions before gradually moving to affect Abu Dhabi late on Thursday night and early Friday morning.

“During Friday daytime, rainfall is expected to extend to include the northern regions, Al Ain, and the eastern areas, with cloud amounts decreasing during the evening and night,” the NCM said.

Its online weather map projects heavy rainfall in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on both Thursday and Friday.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop markedly on Friday, falling to 24°C in Dubai, 23°C in Abu Dhabi and as low as 21°C in Al Ain.

The NCM said conditions will improve by Saturday, with further rainfall expected to be limited to northern areas of the country.

Flood fears linger

Rubesh Pillai, a resident in Dubai's Green Community West, said he was on high alert due to the weather forecast, having been caught in the eye of the storm in previous years.

“Every time there has been rain in Dubai, we have been flooded. In 2010, 2016, 2023 and 2024. I’m really concerned,” he said.

Last year the first floor of his villa was filled with water which rose to nearly a metre, damaging furniture and causing mould to form on walls.

The Sri Lankan businessman, 60, said his family's four cars were also damaged the record rainfall of 2024.

Rubesh Pillai inspects floodwaters at his home in Green Community West in Dubai in April 2024. Antonie Robertson / The National

“I took some precautions following the event last year and purchased two truckload of sand, filled in over 150 sandbags and positioned them all around the property,” he said.

“It is like we did in 2024, but we were still flooded. Short of building an ark, I’m lost for ideas.”

He said the authorities in his community had placed sandbags around the entrance to his villa’s street to prepare for bad weather.

Mr Pillai said he was actively monitoring the NCM's website and other UAE weather platforms on social media for the latest weather updates.

Safety alert for drivers

The NCM on Tuesday called on motorists to be vigilant on the roads during potentially hazardous conditions this week.

In an advisory shared on social media, it called on the public to only drive when necessary during rainy weather and to turn on their low-beam headlights during bouts of poor visibility.

The Ministry of Interior also stressed the need for motorists to exercise caution during challenging weather and shared a list of fines in place for those flouting the rules.

• Dh1,000 fine and six black points for gathering near flooded valleys and dams
• Dh1,000 fine, four black points and 60-day vehicle impoundment for obstructing emergency workers during rainy weather
• Dh2,000 fine, 23 black points and 60-day impoundment of vehicle for entering flooded valleys