In Just 12 Hours, a Year's Worth of Rain Pours Down... The 'Miracle of the Desert' Transformed into a Flooded Sea by Unprecedented Heavy Rain

Dubai Experiences 100mm Heavy Rainfall Over 12 Hours
Unusual Downpours Also Hit Neighboring Oman and Southeastern Iran

On the 16th (local time), heavy rain caused major roads to flood in Dubai. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

As abnormal weather phenomena occur around the globe, record-breaking heavy rain has fallen in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On the 16th (local time), US media CNN reported that heavy rain poured down in Dubai, a desert climate, flooding roads and homes. Nearly 100mm of rain fell across Dubai over 12 hours that day. This amount is equivalent to the usual annual rainfall measured in Dubai.

Due to the sudden heavy rain flooding the roads, some drivers abandoned their cars and evacuated. There were also scenes captured of drivers sitting on top of their submerged vehicles. Videos showing shopping malls and homes inundated with rainwater, turning into chaotic scenes, were posted on social media platforms.

Airport Operations Disrupted Due to Heavy Rain

An aircraft is running on a runway submerged in water. [Image source=Ex(X)]

The heavy rain caused the runway at Dubai International Airport, the second busiest airport in the world, to flood. A video posted on X showed a passenger plane moving through the water like a boat at Dubai Airport. Netizens who saw the video reacted with comments such as "This is dangerous," "The plane is cutting through the water like a ship," and "The climate crisis is a serious issue."

As a result, Dubai Airport suspended operations for about 30 minutes that day. The airport authorities predicted that most of the surrounding roads leading to the airport were flooded, and continuous disruptions to airport operations were expected.

Why Did Flood Damage Increase? Lack of Infrastructure to Respond to Abnormal Weather

On the 16th (local time), a driver is driving a car amid heavy rain in Dubai. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Like other regions in the UAE, Dubai has a hot and dry desert climate. Due to the typically low precipitation, there is a lack of infrastructure to respond to abnormal weather events such as heavy rain, which appears to have worsened the flood damage.

The unusual heavy rain in Dubai is related to a storm front currently passing through the Arabian Peninsula and moving toward the Gulf of Oman. Due to this front, neighboring countries Oman and southeastern Iran are also experiencing unusually heavy rainfall.

In particular, Oman, where rain has continued for several days since the 14th, has reported at least 17 deaths due to flooding so far. Omani authorities announced the suspension of operations at public institutions and private companies in five provinces and recommended remote work, while all schools in six provinces were closed.