Dubai rain: Thundery showers as UAE gets ready for soggy New Year

Heavy rain is forecast from 11pm on Friday, with Abu Dhabi to face brunt of weather front

The rain comes down at the beach in Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National

The rain comes down in Jumeirah, Dubai

Puddles and umbrellas in Discovery Gardens in Dubai, after a 45-minute deluge on Friday morning

Pedestrians run for cover as rain falls on New Year's Eve in Dubai. City residents were woken by thunder and lightning in the early hours

A delivery motorcyclist negotiates the rain-slicked roads of Dubai. Police warned road users to be extra vigilant in the wet conditions

A pedestrian seeks shelter under an umbrella in Dubai. Another front of rain is forecast to arrive around 11pm on New Year's Eve, with Abu Dhabi set to experience several hours of rain

Further rain is forecast across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on Monday and Tuesday – with up to 40 millimetres in isolated areas

There was isolated flooding in low-lying areas in Dubai, including Discovery Gardens

Dubai bus passengers are glad to get out of the rain

Rain clouds loom on the horizon over Discovery Gardens

A pedestrian is caught out in the rain at Discovery Gardens

More rain is forecast for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in parts of the Emirates, after thundery showers over Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Residents in Dubai were woken by thunder and lightning in the early hours of Friday, with rain falling for about 90 minutes around 3am, followed by a second deluge shortly after 11am.

Police have urged road users to be extra cautious in the wet conditions.

Weather charts show a new wet weather front arriving around 11pm on New Year's Eve, with Abu Dhabi set to face the brunt of it into the early hours of Saturday.

Revellers setting out to watch New Year fireworks at displays across the country should plan ahead, take waterproof clothing and anticipate traffic disruption.

They should use public transport where possible – particularly if heading to Downtown Dubai or Expo 2020, said officials.

Saturday, New Year's Day, will see showers and sunny spells throughout the day, according to forecasts from the National Centre of Meteorology and global forecaster Windy.

NCM's live weather chart predicts rain across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates on Monday and Tuesday – with up to 40 millimetres falling in isolated areas.

The country has seen a two-year dry spell, with rainfall largely confined to the Northern Emirates.

In January 2020, days of rainstorms and flooding brought parts of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah to a halt, with pupils sent home from schools for two days in some areas.

Schools in Dubai and Sharjah return to classrooms on Monday, while Abu Dhabi and government schools nationwide will return to home learning due to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.