Unprecedented rainfall breaks 75-year record in UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced torrential rains that shattered a 75-year record, causing flooding in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi from Monday to Tuesday.

In just a few hours, Dubai received rainfall equivalent to two years, causing widespread flooding. This led to the closure of several key points of Sheikh Zayed Road, the city's most important highway.

According to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the UAE experienced unprecedented rainfall in the past 24 hours, which ended at 9pm on Tuesday, April 16.

🚨 دبئی شیخ زید روڈ پر انتہائی تشویشناک صورتحال۔ سینکڑوں کاریں ڈوب گئیں۔ لوگ پریشان ⚡⛈️⚡⛈️😳😳

Weather Updates PK 2.0 - Jawad Memon / Pakistan Doppler pic.twitter.com/IO8ylW2kV6

— Weather Updates PK (@WeatherWupk) April 16, 2024

" Habibi Come to Dubai But With A BOAT Merey Bhai" 🚤
دبئی سوق کے ناقابل یقین مناظر

Weather Updates PK 2.0 - Jawad Memon / Pakistan Doppler pic.twitter.com/ANV2NVO1Ro

— Weather Updates PK (@WeatherWupk) April 16, 2024

This is the highest amount of rainfall recorded in the country since climate data collection began in 1949.

Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain city received a historic downpour. A staggering 254 millimeters of rain fell within a single day, breaking the previous record of 287.6 millimeters set at Al Shuwaib station in March 2016.

Rainwater entered markets, shopping malls and metro stations, many roads were inundated in Sharjah, torrential rains also suspended life in Ajman and Al Ain.

Persistent rainfall caused water to accumulate in front of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, also experienced numerous incoming flight cancellations.

Employees have been directed to switch to remote work and educational institutions in UAE have been instructed to conduct online classes on Wednesday. Intercity bus services between Emirati cities have also been suspended.

Heavy downpour triggered deadly floods in Oman that claimed 18 lives before moving on to wreak havoc in the UAE, Bahrain, and parts of Qatar.