Flash Foods descends on Dubai Airport

On April 17, Dubai’s airport was submerged after a year's worth of rain rushed through the tarmac and into homes and commercial buildings.

Up to 25 centimeters of rain fell over certain parts of the United Arab Emirates in under 48 hours. Flights and transits were delayed in the process, going as far as affecting the following day’s schedule, much to the dismay of many travelers. Budget airlines, like Flydubai, have had to cancel their flights.

Other forms of travel have been suspended due to the weather. With heavy rains and fierce winds, citizens of Dubai were left with no choice but to leave their transportation behind and walk on foot. Meanwhile, government officials are now under a work from home mandate, with private-owned firms and businesses following suit. 

In regular circumstances, Dubai is known for their dry and hot climate, but according to the BBC weather report, “four large storms, each of them towering 15 km into the atmosphere and fuelled by a powerful jetstream, rolled into the UAE one after another.

President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed AL Nahyan calls for the authorities to limit the damage caused and provide support to families impacted by the storm.

With the UAE unexpectedly experiencing intense rainfall, it begs the question of whether the underlying cause of such an extreme incident be climate change. As temperatures are warming, the deadline on preventing the rise in temperature is soon approaching.