The United Arab Emirates is grappling with severe weather conditions as heavy rainfall lashed the country starting Wednesday, 18 December. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasts that the intense downpour will continue through the weekend, impacting daily life and travel. The situation turned tragic with the death of a 27-year-old Indian expatriate in Ras Al Khaimah.
Tragic Incident and Severe Weather Forecast
Salman Fariz, an Indian expat, lost his life in Ras Al Khaimah after a wall collapsed during the heavy rains. This incident highlights the dangers posed by the extreme weather. According to meteorological data, the rainfall which began on 18 December is expected to persist until Saturday, 21 December, due to extensive cloud formations.
The forecast predicts strong winds reaching speeds as high as 50 km per hour, which are likely to cause further problems. Both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea are expected to experience rough waters due to the prevailing conditions.
Travel Chaos and Official Response
The adverse weather has led to significant disruption. Roads in Dubai have been flooded, prompting authorities to issue advisories urging motorists to exercise extreme caution. In response, the Dubai Municipality has activated a 24/7 emergency response system. Specialised teams and equipment are on standby to handle rain-related incidents across the emirate.
Officials have issued a travel advisory, asking residents to avoid non-essential travel during the weekend. Many offices have proactively initiated work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for their employees to ensure safety. The disruption has extended to air travel during one of the busiest seasons of the year.
Flight Disruptions and Airline Advisories
Several flights have been impacted. Indian carrier IndiGo issued a detailed travel advisory on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The airline stated, “Travel Advisory: Weather conditions across the UAE are forecast to shift, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorm expected. In light of this evolving situation, there may be intermittent impacts to flight operations at various points throughout the day.”
Detailed Weekend Forecast
The weather office has provided a detailed outlook for the coming days. On Friday, 20 December, conditions are expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy. Rainfall is predicted over coastal, northern, and eastern areas. Fresh Northwesterly to Southwesterly winds with speeds between 15-30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, are likely. The Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will remain rough.
On Saturday, 21 December, the skies will be partly cloudy with a probability of rainfall over the islands, coastal, and western areas. Fresh light-to-moderate Southwesterly to Northwesterly winds are expected between 10-25 km/h, reaching highs of 35 km/h. Waters in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea are forecast to be rough-to-moderate.
Residents and visitors are strongly advised to stay indoors if possible, follow official updates, and avoid areas prone to flooding. The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the UAE endures this spell of intense rainfall.
