DUBAI // Hundreds of people were stranded outside the Dubai Airshow yesterday after heavy rain caused water to leak inside the exhibition hall and forced organisers to cancel the final day.
Most exhibitors and visitors were unable to enter the venue because of water dripping into the main hall.
“They held us back before going in to register before the security and we could see there was water coming through the ceiling,” an exhibitor said.
“The only people who were allowed to go in there were those who had electronic equipment.
“It’s interesting to see an airshow that started with a sandstorm and ended in a rainstorm.”
Hundreds of people lined up outside the venue, where parts of the car park were flooded.
“They’re completely unable to cope with this weather,” said Omar Mahfouz, a Palestinian visitor who works in aviation.
“It’s such a mess. There’s no organisation at all and people are just standing outside because they still have hope to get in.”
Staff were seen pumping water out of the car park, while shuttle buses from hotels were still running.
“I arrived at around 11.30am and I wanted to talk to people and see exhibitors as I’m interested in components, engines and spare parts as well as new companies who don’t have representatives in the UAE,” Mr Mahfouz said. “But it’s a real disappointment.”
At about noon, visitors started leaving the premises, followed by exhibitors.
Ameera A, a visitor from Jordan, said: “Staff from the organising team said they were only letting exhibitors in to collect their items.”
Some roundabouts leading to Dubai World Central were also flooded, with mud on the streets.
A police officer on duty said the rain had caused a technical problem in the exhibition hall.
Some delegates were forced to leave and have to collect their material another day.
“They closed everything after 9am,” said Mohammed Javed, the quality assurance and product support manager at Chabok, a supplier of aircraft parts.
“We will come back tomorrow to close our stand and get our items.
“It’s a shame this had to happen on the last day and it’s a bad impression on visitors but these things happen. It’s a natural phenomenon.”
Mr Javed said all exhibitors had left by 12.30pm and no heavy traffic was reported on the road.
“They were trying to clean up the floors and mop them up,” said another exhibitor.
“You could see there was water on the ground inside the exhibit hall and we were told the chalets outside were mostly fine but the power system might have gone off.”
Delegates received emails from organisers saying the show would be cancelled.
“We were a little concerned that our bus couldn’t get to the road because some of the car park area was closed off due to floods,” the exhibitor said. “But we managed to leave and we are going to work in our hotel for the rest of the day.
“It’s a disappointment it had to end this way. We wish we could have had one more day to interact with customers and stakeholders.”
Staff from Raytheon were able to enter the exhibition hall in the morning before leaving and tweeted: “It’s a rainy day in the desert (yes, believe it!) at the @DubaiAirshow. Come stay dry at our stand in the exhibit hall.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
