The Center for Meteorology announced on Wednesday evening that it was the heaviest rainfall since records began 75 years ago. In the capital Abu Dhabi, schools, government institutions and companies were asked to learn and work from home.
The state agency WAM spoke of a “historic weather event”. The Emirates is a desert state on the Arabian Peninsula with a mostly dry climate. Instead of rain, the country is struggling with increasing heat. Temperatures of over 50 degrees have been measured here and in neighboring countries in recent years. Many areas lack infrastructure and drainage systems to deal with heavy rain. Scientists assume that man-made climate change is leading to increasingly violent extreme weather events.
Bild: (APA/AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE)
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Bild: (APA/AFP/GIUSEPPE CACACE)
The operators of Dubai Airport, which was one of the largest in the world with 87 million passengers last year, were also overwhelmed by the masses of water.
“We advise you not to come to the airport unless absolutely necessary,” Dubai Airport said in a statement. Flights are delayed or diverted. The operators spoke of a “significant disruption” and a “very challenging situation”.