Large hailstones and heavy rain were affecting driving conditions in Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Kalba on Thursday afternoon.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported heavy rainfall over the east coast of the Emirates, sharing several videos of heavy rain in Khor Fakkan and Fujairah on its social media channels.
Authorities in both emirates have urged motorists to drive with care, leave a safe distance between themselves and the vehicle in front, avoid going near the sea and stay away from valleys and other places where water gathers easily.
Arabic weather website Storm Centre posted several videos of hailstones and heavy rain.
One, in particular, shows vehicles struggling to make their way through a flooded road at Sharm in Fujairah.
NCM also posted a video of heavy water flowing through the Sharm Wadi.
Storm Centre shared another video from Fujairah where the hail is so heavy that it cracks a windscreen.
"It's incredible. See the size of the hailstorm. Check out how it destroys the window," the person says in Arabic.
NCM, which had predicted rain for some northern and eastern areas, said the east coast could see some further rain on Friday, with the weather expected to be fair to partly cloudy in general.
Temperatures in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will reach a maximum of 29ºC (with a low of 19ºC), while temperatures will hit 29ºC in Fujairah.
Saturday will be partly cloudy with a probability of rainclouds forming over some eastern areas. Sunday will be fair to partly cloudy in general, with clouds appearing eastward by the afternoon.
March normally features changeable conditions as the winter season ends and warmer spring months arrive.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
