Dubai Airport is in chaos as deadly storms hit UAE and Oman

• Dubai Airport reported “very challenging conditions” and advised passengers not to turn up due to inundated runways.
• A man lost his life when his car became trapped in flash floods.
• In Oman, 19 deaths have been reported since Sunday.

Heavy rain has been battering Gulf states, causing flash floods that have claimed the lives of 20 people and disrupting flights at the world’s second-busiest airport. Dubai Airport reported facing “very challenging conditions” on Wednesday, advising passengers not to turn up as runways were inundated with water. Further north, a man lost his life when his car became trapped in flash floods. In Oman, rescuers discovered the body of a girl in Saham, bringing the death toll in the country to 19 since Sunday.

Authorities also cautioned that more thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds were forecasted, with many low-lying areas still submerged. On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates, Oman’s northern neighbor, witnessed its largest rainfall event since records began 75 years ago. The National Centre of Meteorology declared that 254.8mm (9.7in) had been recorded at Khatm al-Shakla, in the emirate of al-Ain, in less than 24 hours.

The country typically averages 140-200 mm of rainfall per year, while Dubai usually receives only 97mm. The monthly average for April is only about 8mm. Footage from the center of Dubai depicted dozens of submerged vehicles on a flooded section of Sheikh Zayed Road, along with long traffic jams elsewhere on the 12-lane highway.

British tourist Caroline Seubert, 29, from Leyland in Lancashire, informed the BBC that she and her husband were currently stranded at a shopping center in Dubai. While no deaths were reported in Dubai, an elderly man lost his life when his vehicle was swept away in a flash flood in Ras al-Khaimah. Despite the rain easing by Tuesday evening, Dubai International Airport cautioned on Wednesday morning that “recovery will take some time.”

The intense storm that commenced on Tuesday morning and persisted through most of the day compelled the airport to suspend operations for 25 minutes, divert several inbound planes, and cancel several inbound and outbound flights. Videos shared on social media depicted aircraft navigating through several inches of water that completely submerged the airport’s apron and taxiways.

“We are currently experiencing significant disruption due to the weather and are continuously working with our emergency response teams and service partners to restore normal operations as quickly as possible,” it said on X, formerly Twitter.

“Flooding and road blockages have left limited transport options for arriving and departing guests. Flights are delayed/diverted and impacted by displaced crew,” it added.

Meanwhile, Emirates, one of the UAE’s two flag carriers and the world’s largest international airline, informed customers that check-in had been suspended at the airport for all flights until midnight (20:00 GMT).

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