Dubai airport flooding: Flights delayed or cancelled

Latest: Enough rumours, cloud seeding had nothing to do with UAE's three-day rain storm

Flights at Dubai International Airport faced continued disruption on Sunday, with more cancellations caused by overnight flooding.

Heavy rainfall caused disruption to several flights at DXB, with Emirates airline advising passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Customers affected by flight cancellations are automatically rebooked on the next available flight,” an Emirates spokesman said.

“Customers are being contacted and sent their updated booking to the email address registered with Emirates at the time of booking.”

Airport operators were working closely with airlines on Sunday morning to minimise disruption.

“Dubai Airports can confirm that due to heavy rainfall and flooding earlier today, Dubai International (DXB) is experiencing operational disruptions,” an official said.

“We are working closely with our service partners to get back to full operations as soon as possible, however, flight delays are expected to continue through the day with some cancellations and diversions to Dubai World Central (DWC).”

Passengers were asked to check revised times with airlines and allow sufficient time to reach the airport.

The Roads and Transport Authority urged residents to use the metro in Dubai to avoid traffic snarls as commuters reported being stranded on the roads for hours.

Dubai Media Office tweeted that “ponds” had formed in some areas due to “unusually heavy rain” of 150mm per hour for more than two hours.

Transport authorities said service centres, vehicle inspection centres and driving institutes would remain shut on Saturday due to adverse weather conditions.

The National Centre of Meteorology sent out an alert warning residents to be extremely vigilant. The centre forecast “hazardous weather events of exceptional severity” throughout the day with thunder, heavy rain in the Northern Emirates and eastern areas.

“Freezing rain” was expected in the mountain areas and rainfall would continue for the next two days, the centre said.

Chilly temperatures will persist across the country with the mercury expected to dip 4 to 6 degrees through the week.

Mountain areas such as Jebel Jais will have minimum temperatures as low as  0°C, internal areas will range between 9°C to 14°C and coastal areas will stay at 10°C to 15°C.

“We are expecting freezing rain and freezing of accumulated water in the mountains,” said an official with the meteorological centre.

“The main warning is now over the sea with strong northwesterly winds over the Arabian Gulf and the Oman sea.”

Wind speeds in the Arabian Gulf were at 30 knots with waves up to 12 feet.

Rainfall is expected to continue on Sunday across northern, eastern and southern areas from Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain to Asab.

UAE residents such as Antonio Abreu woke up to find the water levels rising in the parking areas near his home in Discovery Gardens and shifted his vehicle to safer ground at Ibn Battuta Mall nearby.

“Many cars are stuck. I managed to take my car out and moved the car slowly so as not to get water in the engine because it is almost like a river in some parts,” he said.

“This happens every year here when there is heavy rain. I hope they finally will solve this flooding problem.”

Some sites such as Global Village announced they would stay shut for the day until conditions improved.