Record Rainfall Causes Severe Flooding in Dubai, Disrupting Travel and Daily Life

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, experienced unprecedented heavy rainfall on April 16, 2024, resulting in widespread flooding that disrupted air travel, closed schools, and prompted work-from-home directives. The UAE saw its heaviest recorded rainfall since 1949, with Dubai receiving over 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rain in just 24 hours, significantly surpassing the average annual rainfall of 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches).

The intense downpour overwhelmed the UAE's drainage systems, flooding neighborhoods, business districts, and major highways. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, struggled to restore normal operations as its grounds were inundated with water. The airport required 22 tankers with vacuum pumps to remove the floodwater, leading to the delay and cancellation of numerous flights.

Alana Hicks, a performing arts teacher and performer who witnessed the extreme weather event firsthand, described the second storm that occurred around 3 PM as making it look like midnight due to the incredibly dark conditions. "I have never seen rain like this before, even after living in Dubai for a long time and traveling extensively," Hicks stated, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the rainfall and resulting flooding.

The heavy rain also impacted daily life in Dubai, with one community seeing floodwaters reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) deep. Authorities worked diligently to pump out the water and assess the damage, but at least one person was reported to have died as a result of the flooding. Schools remained closed due to road closures, and many residents faced challenges with cleaning mud accumulation, restoring damaged furniture, and dealing with health issues like fever, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Why this matters: The extreme weather event in Dubai highlights the increasing impact of climate change on the Persian Gulf region and the urgent need for infrastructure adaptations. As global temperatures rise, the likelihood of more frequent and intense storms, droughts, floods, and wildfires grows, underscoring the importance of climate resilience planning in rapidly developing urban areas.

While the UAE's aggressive cloud seeding program was initially speculated to have contributed to the flooding, weather experts attributed the event to an unusually strong low-pressure system and the effects of climate change. Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan acknowledged the crisis and promised to study the condition of the country's infrastructure to limit the damage caused by such extreme weather events in the future. The record-breaking rainfall serves as a stark warning to the wider Persian Gulf region to take proactive measures to 'climate-proof' their futures.

Key Takeaways

• Dubai experienced unprecedented heavy rainfall on April 16, 2024, causing widespread flooding.
• The rainfall overwhelmed the UAE's drainage systems, disrupting air travel and daily life.
• At least one person died, and schools remained closed due to the flooding and damage.
• The extreme weather event highlights the increasing impact of climate change on the region.
• The UAE pledged to study its infrastructure to limit damage from future extreme weather events.