A mammoth clean-up operation across the Emirates is well under way after a two-day rainstorm which caused major travel disruption.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority deployed more than 300 fixed and mobile pumps in flood-hit areas to help drain water from roads and ease traffic congestion.
Dubai Media Office said all main roads were clear, in a social media post shared at about 12.40pm on Friday. It thanked emergency response teams for helping keep the emirate on the move.
Shortly before 4pm, Dubai Municipality announced in a social media message that beaches, public parks and open-air markets – closed on Thursday as a safety measure – had reopened due to improving weather.
Abu Dhabi Police said it was intensifying efforts to address flooding on roads in the capital to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of accidents.
Flights to and from Dubai and Sharjah were cancelled and delayed earlier on Friday after the country was lashed by heavy rain, thunder and lightning for a second day.
Emirates airline announced that 13 of its flights from Dubai International Airport would be suspended on Friday due to the treacherous weather.
A number of other early-morning flights from Dubai's main travel hub, operated by local and international carriers, were also grounded or faced delays.
“Adverse weather in the UAE and surrounding region on 18 and 19 December has impacted Emirates operations, with some flights being cancelled, delayed and retimed,” Emirates said on its website on Thursday evening.
Darren Taft, 47, was at Phuket Airport waiting for an Air Arabia flight to Sharjah after a short holiday.
“Our flight has been delayed,” he said. “We're not sure of the new time yet. The earlier Sharjah flight still hasn't arrived. And flight radar suggests ours is 50 minutes delayed.
“Fingers crossed that is the case and the earlier flight doesn't get our plane. I just checked my doorbell camera back home in Town Square and it's pouring down.”
The wet weather struck Dubai on Thursday afternoon, before Abu Dhabi was hit by heavy rain later in the evening.
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Dubai Media Office said the emirate is expected to experience unstable weather until Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Dubai Police called on people to avoid beaches, valleys and flood-prone areas. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Rain lashed Dubai and the northern emirates on Thursday, causing isolated flooding and some disruption on roads. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Aftermath of the heavy night time rains affect residents in the Al Quoz area of Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Abu Dhabi weather images. Victor Besa / The National -
Abu Dhabi weather images. Victor Besa / The National -
Abu Dhabi weather images. Victor Besa / The National -
Aftermath of the heavy night time rains along the Mall Of The Emirates turnoof on Sheik Zayed Road Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Wet weather AUH. A view of Downtown Abu Dhabi from Yas Island -
Aftermath of the heavy night time rains along the Mall Of The Emirates turnoof on Sheik Zayed Road Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Wet weather AUH. Yas Island -
Aftermath of the heavy night time rains along the Mall Of The Emirates turnoof on Sheik Zayed Road Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Vehicles drive on a flooded road during heavy rain in Dubai. AFP -
Pools formed along Jebel Ali Racecourse road in Dubai after a downpour. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Pedestrians navigate the water on Jebel Ali Racecourse road in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
Emirates cancellations
• EK977/978 Dubai/Tehran/Dubai
• EK823/824 Dubai/Dammam/Dubai
• EK945/946 Dubai/Basra/Dubai
• EK866/867 Dubai/Muscat/Dubai
• EK853/854 Dubai/Kuwait/Dubai
• EK835/836 Dubai/Bahrain/Dubai
• EK837/838 Dubai/Bahrain/Dubai
• EK705/796 Dubai/Seychelles/Dubai
• EK656/657 Dubai/Male/Dubai
• EK650/651 Dubai/Colombo/Dubai
• EK636/637 Dubai/Peshawar/Dubai
• EK043/44 Dubai/Frankfurt/Dubai
• EK322/323 Dubai/Incheon/Dubai
Flydubai said the unstable weather had led to “select flights being cancelled, delayed or diverted”.
“The weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the day [Friday]. Passengers are advised to allow sufficient time for their journey to the airport and to visit flydubai.com for the latest updates,” a flydubai spokesperson said.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is always our priority. We apologise for the inconvenience caused as a result of the adverse weather.”
Bus services suspended
The RTA said Dubai bus services to and from Ajman and Sharjah would be suspended “until further notice” due to the challenging weather.
Prices soar amid travel scramble
Dubai residents battling waterlogged roads to make flights reporting facing lengthy delays – and a significant spike in taxi fares.
One person on social media said she paid Dh500 to travel from The Greens neighbourhood of Dubai to Dubai International Airport, a 25km journey that would typically cost between Dh100 and Dh150.
Another traveller advised others to use the Metro if possible and warned of taxi charges of Dh400.
'I escaped by a whisker' – this time
A Dubai resident who has fallen victim to flooding several times said he took decisive action to prevent a repeat this time.
Rubesh Pillai, who lives in Green Community West, used four lorryloads of sand to fill more than 500 sandbags to block the water and keep his home safe.
During last April's record rainfall, 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.
“I escaped by a whisker this storm. I used over 500 sandbags to block the water,” said the 60-year-old Sri Lankan businessman.
“I brought the sand on Wednesday. It took me 48 hours of filling and stacking them all around the villa but it worked this time.”
He said his home had been hit by flooding in 2010, 2016, 2023 and 2024.
Insurance cover is crucial
Experts said home insurance coverage across the UAE has risen to about 20 per cent, from 15 per cent last year, but those rates are still low.
Sanjay Babur, chief executive of Cosmos Insurance, said the reasons for the rise are complicated and could relate to increased home ownership levels as much as weather events.
Mr Babur said contents insurance packages are affordable, starting at Dh250, but people need to be clear about what the coverage offers.
He also said some people think that if they have a mortgage they are covered but this insurance typically covers the building and not contents.
“Contents insurance is extremely cheap,” he said. “I would advise people to take it out.”
He urged tenants to check their letting agreements and see what is covered.
“Home insurance can be complicated for the first-time buyer. They should use the services of a good broker to get impartial advice,” Mr Babur said.
Workers urged to stay at home
Private sector businesses in areas most affected by heavy rain had been urged to implement a remote work policy on Friday.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said this directive applied to staff whose roles permit it and it aimed to preserve employee health and safety. It followed a decision in Dubai mandating that all government staff work remotely to avoid the adverse weather.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai urged the public to be vigilant over heavy rain, high winds and thunder and lightning.
Severe downpours caused flooding on the roads and in communities across the country, leading to lengthy delays for commuters.
The Northern Emirates were also affected by the adverse weather, while heavy rain was reported across the region.
Residents in Dubai were awoken by cracks of thunder and lightning as heavy rain drenched streets and roads in the early hours.
Weather warning
The National Centre of Meteorology earlier issued an orange alert over hazardous weather for Dubai, Fujairah, the Sharjah enclave of Khor Fakkan and parts of Abu Dhabi.
The notice, as well as a less severe yellow alert asking people to take care when outside, was in place until 10.30am on Friday.
The extreme weather, which has swept across the country since Thursday, eased as the day progressed and is expected to give way to a relatively dry Saturday.
