Dubai flooding follows rare torrential rain

Flights into Dubai were being diverted overnight after the desert capital had as much rain in a day as it usually gets in a year | WATCH

Vehicles drive on a flooded road during torrential rain in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai on Tuesday. Picture: Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

Flights into Dubai were being diverted overnight after the desert capital had as much rain in a day as it usually gets in a year.

More the 120 millimetres of rain fell on Dubai during Tuesday local time, with more expected.

The tarmac at Dubai International Airport was also flooded as planes made their way around what looked more like a lake, Sky News UK reported today.

Visuals from Dubai International Airport (DXB) : Dozens of inbound and outbound flights have been cancelled.#airport #rain pic.twitter.com/zq2ylAu8Sn

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) April 16, 2024

Airport operations were suspended for 25 minutes due to the bad weather, with at least 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights cancelled during the day, and three flights diverted to other airports, Sky said.

Departure flights were continuing to operate but inbound flights were being diverted until weather conditions improved.

“The airport is working hard with its response teams and service partners to restore normal operations and minimise inconvenience to our customers,” an airport spokesperson said.

Homes and roads were flooded and cars were stranded.

Dubai, the Middle East’s financial centre, was disrupted by the rainfall that also caused widespread flooding around the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates both suffered flooding, and water was ankle-deep at at least one Dubai Metro station.

This is NOT a Timelapse. This is the most lightning I’ve ever seen. #Dubai pic.twitter.com/c1dKDlKUP1

— Toby Cunningham (@sircryptotips) April 16, 2024

The Asian Champions League football semi-final between the UAE’s Al Ain and Saudi side Al Hilal, due to be hosted in Al Ain, was postponed for 24 hours.