• Motorists drive in the rain on Al Khail Road in Dubai on Jan 3. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Motorists drive in the rain on Al Khail Road in Dubai on Jan 3. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • The UAE had been receiving unusually large amounts of rain over the weekend.
    The UAE had been receiving unusually large amounts of rain over the weekend.
  • Traffic under grey skies and rain on Hessa Street in Dubai.
    Traffic under grey skies and rain on Hessa Street in Dubai.
  • The National Centre of Meteorology said downpours, strong winds and leaden skies were expected.
    The National Centre of Meteorology said downpours, strong winds and leaden skies were expected.
  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi were hit by intense storms with torrential rain deluging the cities, along with thunder and lightning.
    Dubai and Abu Dhabi were hit by intense storms with torrential rain deluging the cities, along with thunder and lightning.

UAE weather: More rain hits Dubai as cloud-seeding planes take to the skies


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Latest: Final burst of rain before cool and dry weekend ahead

More rain hit Dubai and other Emirates on Monday as forecasters warned the UAE is in for several more days of wet weather.

The National Centre of Meteorology said downpours, strong winds and leaden skies could be expected until Wednesday, if not for longer.

Powerful gusts of up to 60 kilometres per hour could sweep across the UAE until Tuesday, reducing visibility, throwing up dust clouds and causing rough conditions in the Arabian Gulf, the forecast showed.

The NCM also said cloud-seeding planes are in action to try to coax more rain to fall.

"The country is affected by unstable weather due to an extension of a surface low pressure, accompanied by an upper air low pressure from the west," the NCM said.

It follows a bout of wet conditions that swept across the Emirates from Friday.

A man navigates a deluged street in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A man navigates a deluged street in Al Quoz, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai and Abu Dhabi were hit by intense storms with torrential rain deluging the cities along with thunder and lightning.

Almost 18 months' worth of rain fell in the UAE in the space of just three days.

Since December 30, Saih Al Salam in Dubai, which includes Al Qudra Lakes, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, has recorded 141.8mm of rain.

On average, the UAE records about 100 millimetres of precipitation a year.

Collapsed ceilings, leaking doors and blocked drains were reported in some homes after the New Year storm struck Dubai.

The UAE's cloud-seeding planes have also been in action coinciding with downpours across the Emirates.

The NCM's seeding programme does not create rain but tries to enhance it.

Seeding involves shooting crystals such as salt into the clouds. Salt naturally attracts water. The water particles then collide with each other and hopefully fall as rain.

How much rainfall is generated is hard to quantify, with the NCM saying more studies are needed.

"I don't think we've seen rain like this since 2019," Dr Abdulla Al Bahri, a forecaster at the NCM, told Dubai Eye radio station on Monday. "It's natural and some of it is [because of] cloud seeding."

Aftermath of the UAE storm - in pictures

  • Workers clearing a flooded road after heavy rain in Al Barsha heights, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Workers clearing a flooded road after heavy rain in Al Barsha heights, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Not a common sight in the UAE, people using umbrella in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Not a common sight in the UAE, people using umbrella in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A flooded road in Al Quoz Industrial area, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A flooded road in Al Quoz Industrial area, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A tree felled by extreme weather in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A tree felled by extreme weather in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Workers push a car stranded on a flooded street in Al Quoz Industrial area. Pawan Singh / The National
    Workers push a car stranded on a flooded street in Al Quoz Industrial area. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Workers clear a flooded road in Al Barsha heights. Pawan Singh / The National
    Workers clear a flooded road in Al Barsha heights. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A flooded road in Al Quoz Industrial area. Pawan Singh / The National
    A flooded road in Al Quoz Industrial area. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Trying to stay dry in Al Furjan, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Trying to stay dry in Al Furjan, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A worker clearing water from a road in the Greens area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A worker clearing water from a road in the Greens area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Floodwaters being cleared on Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Floodwaters being cleared on Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Traffic jams on the flooded Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Traffic jams on the flooded Al Qudra Road, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The Mangroves area in Abu Dhabi on a cool and gloomy morning. Victor Besa / The National
    The Mangroves area in Abu Dhabi on a cool and gloomy morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • A brisk breeze has the UAE flag fluttering on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A brisk breeze has the UAE flag fluttering on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Two women enjoy a cool morning on the Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
    Two women enjoy a cool morning on the Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
  • Runners take advantage of the cool weather on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Runners take advantage of the cool weather on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Corniche in Abu Dhabi on a cool and gloomy morning. Victor Besa / The National
    The Corniche in Abu Dhabi on a cool and gloomy morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Traffic heading in to downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Traffic heading in to downtown Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Scoreline

Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'

Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')

Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')

Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)

Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

 

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20%E2%80%93%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Married Malala

Malala Yousafzai is enjoying married life, her father said.

The 24-year-old married Pakistan cricket executive Asser Malik last year in a small ceremony in the UK.

Ziauddin Yousafzai told The National his daughter was ‘very happy’ with her husband.

Updated: May 02, 2025, 8:23 AM