• Dark rain clouds form over the Ghantoot area in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dark rain clouds form over the Ghantoot area in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Lightning in Umm Al Quwain.
    Lightning in Umm Al Quwain.
  • Children enjoying during the rain in Masakin Al Furjan in Al Furjan area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Children enjoying during the rain in Masakin Al Furjan in Al Furjan area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Some roads were left flooded by downpours. Leslie Pableo / The National
    Some roads were left flooded by downpours. Leslie Pableo / The National
  • It was soggy at the Dubai Airshow on Wednesday. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    It was soggy at the Dubai Airshow on Wednesday. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Heavy rain in Khorfakkan
    Heavy rain in Khorfakkan
  • Children enjoy their day off school in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Children enjoy their day off school in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Residents in Satwa, Dubai shelter from the rain. Leslie Pableo / The National
    Residents in Satwa, Dubai shelter from the rain. Leslie Pableo / The National
  • Heavy skies over Dubai. Ramola Talwar / The National
    Heavy skies over Dubai. Ramola Talwar / The National
  • Abu Dhabi was overcast on Wednesday morning after some early rain. Victor Besa / The National
    Abu Dhabi was overcast on Wednesday morning after some early rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • A fisherman with his catch in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A fisherman with his catch in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Dark skies behind Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. Victor Besa / The National
    Dark skies behind Abu Dhabi's Marina Mall. Victor Besa / The National
  • Residents take a walk under leaden skies on Abu Dhabi Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
    Residents take a walk under leaden skies on Abu Dhabi Corniche. Victor Besa / The National
  • A stormy Dubai skyline on Wednesday morning. Charlotte Mayhew / The National
    A stormy Dubai skyline on Wednesday morning. Charlotte Mayhew / The National
  • Schools across the UAE were closed on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National
    Schools across the UAE were closed on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National
  • Puddles formed outside Raha International School in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Puddles formed outside Raha International School in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Dark clouds over Dubai Marina on Wednesday morning. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Dark clouds over Dubai Marina on Wednesday morning. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • An interlude in the morning rain over Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    An interlude in the morning rain over Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A General view of Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai . Satish Kumar/ For the National
    A General view of Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai . Satish Kumar/ For the National
  • A general view of Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Dubai . Satish Kumar/ For the National
    A general view of Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in Dubai . Satish Kumar/ For the National
  • Strong rain at Jumeirah Beach Road. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Strong rain at Jumeirah Beach Road. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Workers pump floodwaters on the street in Discovery Gardens. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Workers pump floodwaters on the street in Discovery Gardens. Leslie Pableo for The National

UAE weather: Forecasters warn of rain from Wednesday


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Related: UAE's 2021 dry spell highlights importance of country's water security plans

The UAE could be hit by much-needed rain by the end of the week.

Forecasters at the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said eastern and western areas of the country could experience a spell of rainy weather.

It comes after a particularly mild winter with sunny days that have delivered lower than usual rates of rainfall.

And forecasters say the showers could even continue into the weekend.

"[It will be] partly cloudy to cloudy at times over some areas especially eastern and western areas, with a chance of rainy convective clouds by afternoon," forecasters at the NCM said.

Storm Centre, a popular UAE account that tracks the country's weather, also posted about the possibility of rain.

"Chances for good rains to fall in some parts of the country next week, and the chances of rain will continue sporadically until the end of April," it said.

The UAE recorded only 1.2 millimetres of rain in the first three months of the year, highlighting the importance of the government's long-term strategy to improve water security.

Authorities have increased efforts to conserve water resources in recent years.

The NCM's cloud-seeding programme conducts regular missions to enhance rainfall, while the use of vertical farms – which require 90 per cent less water than traditional farms – have been promoted.

According to forecast charts on Windy.com, downpours are expected over much of northern Oman on Wednesday and Thursday.

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