Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, hail and thunderstorms, affected Dubai, causing disruptions to daily activity and aviation operations across the city.
The unstable conditions drew widespread attention after a video circulated on social media showing an Emirates aircraft abandoning its landing attempt at Dubai International Airport. The footage appeared to show the plane pulling up sharply moments before touchdown, reportedly due to strong crosswinds and limited visibility as the storm intensified.
As weather conditions deteriorated, Dubai Police issued a public safety alert urging residents to remain indoors and limit travel. Authorities warned that conditions were expected to remain unstable for several hours and advised caution on roads due to reduced visibility and the risk of water accumulation.
“For your safety, please remain cautious as unstable weather conditions are expected in the coming hours, and avoid going out unless it is absolutely necessary until midday on Friday,” read a police alert sent to residents’ mobile phones, according to AFP.
The warning was issued as heavy rainfall affected multiple parts of the city, raising concerns about traffic disruption and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
The National Centre of Meteorology in the United Arab Emirates said rainfall alerts had been issued for both Thursday and Friday. Dubai and Abu Dhabi were listed among the areas expected to experience the most severe conditions during the weather system.
The impact of the disturbance extended beyond the UAE. Other Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, also released weather advisories on Thursday as intense rainfall moved across the region.
According to the Khaleej Times, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence called on residents to stay alert amid rapidly changing conditions. The authority urged people to take precautionary measures during periods of rain and to stay away from locations vulnerable to flash flooding.
Thursday’s rainfall prompted comparisons with the unprecedented weather event that struck the UAE in 2024. In April last year, record-breaking downpours inundated homes, submerged major road networks and brought transport systems to a halt across Dubai and several other cities, causing widespread disruption to daily life.
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