UAE weather: Flights cancelled at Dubai airport after heavy rain and thunderstorms


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New forecast: UAE set for more rain this weekend but conditions to ease

Flights were disrupted at Dubai International Airport on Friday after heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Emirates.

The wet weather caused 13 inbound flights to be redirected to other airports, while six outbound flights were cancelled, a representative for Dubai Airports said on Friday.

The operator advised passengers to use the Dubai Metro, check traffic updates and give themselves plenty of time to reach Dubai International Airport, in addition to checking for flight updates online.

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority also announced on social media that bus lines across the city have been 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 sent 96 tanks, 220 mobile pumps and three high-pumping capacity vehicles to clear flooded areas in the emirate.

The city has been divided into sectors to ensure a prompt response and the municipality's call centre will operate around the clock to swiftly handle all reports, authorities said.

Water removed from streets and other areas will be emptied in 59 rainwater collection basins that have been established across Sharjah.

Parts of the UAE were lashed by heavy rain and thunder on Friday morning.

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.

There was heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning in parts of Dubai from 5am on Friday.

The weather bureau issued an orange and yellow alert for the Northern Emirates, warning residents of heavy rain, thunder and strong winds. Conditions are expected to settle by noon.

  • Waterlogged streets after heavy rain in the Al Furjan area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Waterlogged streets after heavy rain in the Al Furjan area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Tankers help to clear water from the streets in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Tankers help to clear water from the streets in Discovery Gardens, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A flooded road in the Discovery Gardens area. Pawan Singh / The National
    A flooded road in the Discovery Gardens area. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Heavy rain led to flooding in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National
    Heavy rain led to flooding in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A car struggles through the water in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A car struggles through the water in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Water is pumped from waterlogged streets in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National
    Water is pumped from waterlogged streets in Discovery Gardens. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Large puddles in a residential neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Large puddles in a residential neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The aftermath of heavy rain in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The aftermath of heavy rain in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Overcast skies on Friday above Mina Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Overcast skies on Friday above Mina Port, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Heavy rain and strong winds brought flooding to Umm Suquim Street in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Heavy rain and strong winds brought flooding to Umm Suquim Street in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Morning commuters plough through flooded streets in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Morning commuters plough through flooded streets in Al Quoz. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Dubai commuters faced a difficult journey to work early on Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Dubai commuters faced a difficult journey to work early on Friday. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Morning thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Morning thunderstorms brought heavy rain and flooding. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Wet weather in Dubai on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Wet weather in Dubai on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Some road surfaces were engulfed. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Some road surfaces were engulfed. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • It was heavy going for those on foot. Antonie Robertson / The National
    It was heavy going for those on foot. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A tree felled by heavy rain and winds. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A tree felled by heavy rain and winds. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Driving conditions were difficult on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Driving conditions were difficult on Friday morning. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • People shelter from the rain under umbrellas. Antonie Robertson / The National
    People shelter from the rain under umbrellas. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
    Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
  • Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
    Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
  • Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National
    Flood waters are seen on the roads around the Ibn Batutta mall area of Dubai. James O'Hara / The National

The RTA also issued a flood warning after rain accumulated around Sheikh Zayed Road on Friday morning. Motorists were urged to take alternative routes.

It has also joined forces with Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and Nakheel to clear the roads of damage caused by the rainfall and restore traffic flows in the emirate.

Dubai Municipality has asked residents to report flooded areas using its dedicated WhatsApp number, 800900 or the authority's mobile app.

Dubai school operator KHDA also issued a warning on social media on Friday morning urging schools and parents to be flexible for children, students and staff during the wet conditions.

“In times of rain, it’s important to be flexible – schools and parents can decide what’s best for their children, students and staff. Take care if you're on the road today,” KHDA wrote on X.

Dubai Airshow 2023, which is taking place this week at Al Maktoum International Airport, will be going ahead as planned including the flying display, organisers announced on Thursday.

This came as Dubai Police issued a rare emergency alert to residents' phones, urging motorists to be cautious and to steer clear of flood-prone areas.

The government on Thursday urged the private sector to allow flexible working on Friday. A number of schools and nurseries are expected to be closed

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation urged private sector employees to “apply flexible work patterns”.

“Necessary measures need to be taken by companies to ensure outdoor work, which is necessary to resume, complies with the occupational health and safety requirements.

“Companies also need to ensure the health and safety of workers commuting to and from outdoor work locations.”

Abu Dhabi Police advised motorists to take care on the emirate's roads.

The NCM said temperatures are expected to fall – with highs of 29°C and 28°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, 31°C in Ras Al Khaimah and 30°C in Fujairah.

Abu Dhabi Police called on motorists “to exercise caution due to the rainy weather and to follow the changing speed limits displayed on the electronic information boards. “Drive safely,” officers urged.

Police in Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday confirmed that government schools in the emirate on Friday would follow remote learning protocols due to the unstable weather.

Ajman Police confirmed that public and private schools in the emirate would be remote learning as well, due to the heavy rain.

Weather website Windy said the rain would spread to Fujairah in the afternoon.

Conditions are expected to settle by Saturday with temperatures rising slightly 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 conditions at sea over the weekend are expected to be calm.

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

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The%20specs%20
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CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

Did you know?

Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.

%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20May%2028%2C%20United%20States%20v%20Scotland%3Cbr%3ESunday%2C%20May%2029%2C%20United%20States%20v%20Scotland%3Cbr%3ETuesday%2C%20May%2031%2C%20UAE%20v%20Scotland%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2C%20June%201%2C%20UAE%20v%20United%20States%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%203%2C%20UAE%20v%20Scotland%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%204%2C%20UAE%20v%20United%20States%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAhmed%20Raza%20(captain)%2C%20Chirag%20Suri%2C%20Muhammad%20Waseem%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20CP%20Rizwan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Kashif%20Daud%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%2C%20Akif%20Raja%2C%20Rahul%20Bhatia%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETable%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Oman%2032%2019%2011%2040%20%2B0.156%3Cbr%3E2.%20Scotland%2016%2011%203%2024%20%2B0.574%3Cbr%3E3.%20UAE%2018%2010%206%2022%20%2B0.22%3Cbr%3E4.%20Namibia%2014%207%207%2014%20%2B0.096%3Cbr%3E5.%20United%20States%2016%207%209%2014%20-0.229%3Cbr%3E6.%20Nepal%2012%206%206%2012%20%2B0.113%3Cbr%3E7.%20Papua%20New%20Guinea%2020%201%2019%202%20-0.856%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

Profile

Name: Carzaty

Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar

Launched: 2017

Employees: 22

Based: Dubai and Muscat

Sector: Automobile retail

Funding to date: $5.5 million

AIDA%20RETURNS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECarol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAida%20Abboud%2C%20Carol%20Mansour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5.%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Blah

Started: 2018

Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and talent management

Initial investment: Dh20,000

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 40

The biog

Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Barbie
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Greta%20Gerwig%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Ryan%20Gosling%2C%20Will%20Ferrell%2C%20America%20Ferrera%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMaly%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mo%20Ibrahim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%241.6%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2015%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%2C%20planning%20first%20seed%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GCC-based%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
India team for Sri Lanka series

Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan

Reputation

Taylor Swift

(Big Machine Records)

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: November 17, 2023, 3:31 PM