UAE set for more rain this weekend but conditions to ease

The UAE is braced for further rainfall at the weekend following a Friday deluge that led to widespread disruption.

Large parts of the Emirates were lashed by heavy rain and thunder on Friday morning, leading to road closures and flight cancellations.

The National Centre of Meteorology forecasts further rainfall in Fujairah and Al Ain on Saturday, but expects Abu Dhabi and Dubai to avoid the worst of the unstable weather.

The weather agency said cloudy skies will persist in both the capital and Dubai throughout the day, giving way to sunny conditions on Sunday.

“Partly cloudy in general, with a chance of convective clouds over some islands, some coastal areas extending to some internal areas, associated with rainfall,” the NCM said of Saturday's forecast, in its latest five-day bulletin.

Temperatures are set to rise slightly on Saturday to highs of 30°C and 29°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively, 30°C in Ras Al Khaimah and 31°C in Fujairah.

On Sunday, the mercury will rise again to highs of 31°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, 31°C in Ras Al Khaimah and 30°C in Fujairah, the NCM said.

Weather forecasting website Windy said there is a chance of more rainfall and thunder in Dubai between 7am and 10am on Saturday, after which skies will clear for the remainder of the weekend.

Windy forecasts a largely dry weekend in store in Abu Dhabi.

UAE hit by morning downpours

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  Waterlogged streets after heavy rain in the Al Furjan area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Tankers help to clear water from the streets in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A flooded road in the Discovery Gardens area. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Heavy rain led to flooding in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A car struggles through the water in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Water is pumped from waterlogged streets in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Large puddles in a residential neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  The aftermath of heavy rain in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Overcast skies on Friday above Mina Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

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  Heavy rain and strong winds brought flooding to Umm Suquim Street in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Morning commuters plough through flooded streets in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Dubai commuters faced a difficult journey to work early on Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Morning thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Wet weather in Dubai on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Some road surfaces were engulfed. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  It was heavy going for those on foot. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  A tree felled by heavy rain and winds. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Driving conditions were difficult on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  People shelter from the rain under umbrellas. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National

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  Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National

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  Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National

Flights were disrupted at Dubai International Airport on Friday due to the adverse weather.

Thirteen inbound flights were redirected to other airports, while six outbound flights were cancelled, a representative for Dubai Airports said.

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority also announced on social media that bus lines across the city were suspended, including the E315 from Dubai to Sharjah and the E411 from Dubai to Ajman.

Dubai Police urged motorists travelling on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road between Al Rashidiya Bridge and Sharjah to exercise caution and use alternative routes due to flooding in the area.

Sharjah City Municipality said it had sent 96 tanks, 220 mobile pumps and three high-pumping capacity vehicles to clear flooded areas in the emirate.

The National Centre of Meteorology recorded heavy downpours in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ajman in updates posted to social media.