Dubai tenants face major clean-up operation as floods strike

Encroaching waters have left many in the UAE’s biggest city with huge bills

A municipal worker drains flood waters close to Ibn Battuta and Discovery Gardens on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

Signs were blown down across the city. Ruel Pableo for The National

A driver tries to drain water from his car near Ibn Battuta mall. Ruel Pableo for The National

An abandoned car sits in flood water near the low-lying Discovery Gardens, one of the worst-hit areas. Ruel Pableo for The National

Drivers were caught out by sudden downpours for a third day in a row on Sunday, with many getting stuck. Ruel Pableo for The National

Motorists appear to have abandoned their vehicles in this image from Ibn Battuta. Ruel Pableo for The National

A rainbow appears among the clouds in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National

Cloudy weather once again around the Corniche area in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

High winds caused damage to many buildings, including this one in Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club area. Khushnum Bhandari for The National

Dark clouds over the skyline of Dubai with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. AFP

The sign for Last Exit food truck park in Jebel Ali was torn by high winds. Ruel Pableo for The National

So was this advert for Nakheel properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National

Torn billboards flutter in high winds on Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

The low-lying Jebel Ali area is particularly badly hit. Ruel Pableo for The National

Flooding at a car park by lorries and buses in Jebel Ali on Sunday morning. Ruel Pableo for The National

Municipality workers use a pump at a waterlogged road in Internet City on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National

Roads around Internet City were waterlogged after a fresh downpour about 7.30am on Sunday. Ruel Pableo

Commuters head to work through Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo for The National

A municipality worker clearing debris in Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo foir The National

Rain clouds loom over the road to Abu Dhabi at 7am on Sunday morning. Commuters were hit with patches of driving rain from about 8am. Suhail Rather / The National

Municipal workers attempt to clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality

The National Center for Search and Rescue said the first rescue mission took place on Saturday morning when they received a report about two men being trapped due to flash floods in Wadi Ghashabah. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to the site where the two men, of Sudanese nationality, were found clinging to a tree about 50 meters away from the Wadi banks. The rescue team managed to airlift the men and take them to safety. Courtesy NSRC

Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Overcast skies over Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National

Heavy rains in Dubai during the night caused extensive flooding at intersections within the city. Antonie Robertson / The National

Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National

Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National

Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National

A car drives through a waterlogged road near Al Bateen airport. Scott Walker

A delivery van struggles to navigate flood waters near Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi on Saturday about 9am. Courtesy: Scott Walker

A man sweeps water from the running track along Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National

Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National

Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National

A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

A waiter at Burts in The Greens sweeps away some water to get ready for the business day. Antonie Robertson/The National

Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National

Flooding in Barsha Heights. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Greens saw heavy rain that left the streets wet. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National

A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National

Parking areas in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai were inundated with water and residents raced to get their cars to safer spots following heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday. Courtesy: Antonie Abreu

Flooding in Discovery Gardens. Courtesy: Antonio Abreu

Latest: Dubai and Abu Dhabi braced for more rain and wind

Beleaguered residents are counting the cost of a day of weather woes after heavy rain caused their homes to flood.

Tenants said they were forced to switch off power supplies for their own safety as the hours-long deluge caused water to gush into the properties.

They are left facing a major clean-up operation at buildings they said were ill-equipped to withstand such ferocious downpours.

One embattled parent said he was woken by his young son who had spotted water leaking in through the roof of their home in Jumeirah Park, Dubai.

“This is an adventure we didn’t quite need. My son woke us up at 4am to show us the leaking roof in his bedroom and then we had to get to work with makeshift buckets and mops,” said Ajay Shukla, who lives in district seven of the development with his family.

“The scary part was water coming through the electrical points and even the electrical box. We had to call security to switch off the power supply and then moved downstairs.

“We are living like nomads in our own home.”

Sabina Hammed, who lives in Emirates Living district eight, turned off the electricity when water seeped into the electrical box.

“I don’t want a short circuit, so we switched off the power in the house,” she said.

In Jumeirah Park, residents said the flat roofs of their homes were waterlogged.

“Our drains cannot cope with so much water. The rooftop has become a pool,” one resident wrote on the community’s Facebook page.

“I’m trying to drain the water and have filled up around six big-sized buckets.”

Antonio Abreu, a resident of Discovery Gardens in Dubai, woke up to find the water level rising in the parking areas near his home and shifted his vehicle to safer ground at Ibn Battuta Mall nearby.

“Many cars are stuck. I managed to take my car out and moved the car slowly so as not to get water in the engine because it is almost like a river in some parts,” he said.

“This happens every year here when there is heavy rain. I hope they finally will solve this flooding problem.”