2024 United Arab Emirates floods

On 16 April 2024, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, affected cities of mainly Dubai and Sharjah, the northern Emirates, and different areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.^[1] According to the Emirati National Center for Meteorology, this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years.^[2][3][4] The floods in the Emirates were a part of the greater Persian Gulf floods.^[5]

2024 United Arab Emirates floods

Flood View at Al Mizhar in Dubai
Date	16 April 2024
Location	Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
Cause	Heavy rains
Deaths	5

The storm

The rains began in UAE late on Monday 15 April 2024, intensifying the next day on Tuesday 16 April 2024, and officially concluding on Wednesday 17 April 2024.^[6] The UAE witnessed a record-breaking rainfall in a 24 hour period, surpassing Emirati meteorological data since records began in 1949. According to the National Centre of Meteorology, the highest rainfall was recorded in the Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain, reaching 254.8 mm (10.03 in) in less than 24 hours.^[7] Widespread flooding was reported in all seven emirates.^[8] Ahead of the flooding, an estimated rainfall of 40 mm (1.6 in), up to 100 mm (3.9 in) was estimated in some parts of the UAE.^[9]

Impact

Five people were confirmed dead^[10]; Three Filipinos, an Emirati elderly man,^[11] and a Pakistani man in his 50s who drowned after the municipality tanker he was driving was swept into a wadi.^[12]

Transit

 

Dubai floods seen from space - 17 April 2024

Dubai Metro services were severely impacted, leaving around 200 commuters stranded at several stations. A highway through Dubai was reduced to a single lane in one direction, while the E11 Road that connects Dubai with the capital Abu Dhabi was closed in the Abu Dhabi direction^[13]. Intercity bus service on the Dubai - Abu Dhabi, Dubai - Sharjah, and Dubai - Ajman routes were suspended ^[14][15]

A total of 1,244 flights at Dubai International Airport were cancelled over a two-day period with 41 diverted. All Flydubai flights scheduled for departure on 16 April from Dubai were cancelled. At the Dubai airport, a total of 164 mm (6.45 in) of rain fell.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Authorities declared that posting false news, fake images or rumours about the floods were criminal offenses under the country's cybercrime laws.^[20]

See also

• 2022 United Arab Emirates floods
• 2024 Persian Gulf floods

References

1. "Look: Top UAE places hit by floods after record rains".
2. "Chaos in Dubai as UAE records heaviest rainfall in 75 years". 17 April 2024.
3. Ahmad, Reged; Tondo, Lorenzo; Holmes, Oliver (17 April 2024). "Desert city of Dubai floods as heaviest rainfall in 75 years hits UAE". The Guardian.
4. "Dubai floods: India advises its citizens to reschedule non-essential travel as UAE reels through historic floods". The Hindu. 19 April 2024.
5. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/dubai-airport-city-and-roads-still-underwater-from-historic-floods/ar-BB1lND0G
6. Mair, Findlay (17 April 2024). "UAE confirms the end of worst ever storm". TimeOut UAE. from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
7. "UAE witnesses record-breaking rains, highest in 75 years". Khaleej Times. from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
8. "Dubai flights: All arrivals diverted away from airport amid floods and rain in UAE". The National. 16 April 2024. from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
9. "Weather tracker: Gulf braced for thunderstorms". The Guardian. 15 April 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
10. "Four dead in UAE, Dubai airport still disrupted after storm". Reuters. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
11. "Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: Officials". 19 April 2024.
12. Ali, Aghaddir (20 April 2024). "UAE rains: Municipality worker drowns after tanker swept away by floodwaters in Al Dhaid region". Gulf News. from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
13. Desk, Web. "UAE roads today: Which ones are closed, flooded, clear? Here are the latest updates". Khaleej Times.
14. "Dubai rain: Flights, metro services disrupted. Check details before travelling". Hindustan Times. 17 April 2024.
15. Dhanjal, Ajanta Paul, Meher. "As it happened: Rains disrupt Dubai Metro services, cause traffic diversions on Sheikh Zayed Road". Khaleej Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. "Dubai rain: Airport flooded, India flights hit; schools shut, cars underwater | Top updates". Hindustan Times. 17 April 2024.
17. Ebrahim, Barry Neild, Mostafa Salem, Francesca Street, Nadeen (18 April 2024). "Dubai airport struggles to resume flights after heavy rains leave runways underwater". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
18. "Dubai airport re-opens after UAE suffers heavy rain". 18 April 2024 – via www.bbc.com.
19. "Video: Dubai Airport Flooded, Flights Diverted After Heavy Rain". NDTV.com.
20. "It's illegal to take this photo". The Independent. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2024.