Nationwide clean-up operation under way after stormy weather clears

Some flooded roads were closed on Tuesday after the Emirates was lashed by rain on Monday

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  Floodwater in Mussaffah Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  A lorry navigates a flooded section of Al Qudra Road after heavy rain in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Vehicles brave flooded Al Qudra Road in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Gridlock ensues on flooded Al Qudra Road in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Caution was urged by police following the heavy rain in Dubai that caused flooding on several roads. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Floodwaters rise near a mosque in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Floodwater creeps between homes in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Stagnant floodwater in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Dubai Municipality has responded to floods caused by the heavy rain. Photo: Dubai Municipality

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  Dubai Municipality workers join the clean-up effort following bouts of heavy rain. Photo: Dubai Municipality

A major clean-up operation is under way on roads and in communities across the UAE after two days of heavy rain.

Some routes remained flooded on Tuesday morning causing lengthy delays for commuters, even as gloomy skies gave way to sunshine.

In Dubai, a waterlogged section of the busy Sheikh Zayed Road remains sealed off, with traffic diversions still in place early on Tuesday afternoon.

The Roads and Transport Authority urged drivers travelling on the Jebel Ali stretch to use alternative routes, in a message on X posted shortly after 6.20am.

The authority said, in response to residents on social media, it was also working to remove water from flooded areas of Al Qudra Road.

Dubai Municipality said it had sent a team to clear water from flood-hit areas.

Abu Dhabi Police said traffic was diverted from the Sieh Shuaib bridge on the Dubai-bound route from Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Road.

Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, conducted field tours on Monday to assess the disruption caused by the storms.

Schools across the country continued with distance learning on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation called for private companies to apply “flexible working patterns” for employees for a second day on Tuesday.

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

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

Large parts of the Emirates were lashed by heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning on Sunday evening and throughout Monday.

Dubai Police said on Tuesday it had issued 1,000 certificates to motorists seeking to make insurance claims for damage incurred during the hazardous weather.

The command centre at Dubai Police answered more than 25,000 emergency and non-emergency calls during the unstable conditions.

Calm after the storm

The National Centre of Meteorology forecasts sunny days ahead in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, although the Northern Emirates have not seen the last of the wet weather.

The weather centre said temperatures would reach highs of 27°C in Dubai and 26°C in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday, with more rain expected on both days in Fujairah.

Temperatures will approach 30°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday, the NCM's online weather map predicts.