Latest: Rain in Dubai and sandstorms in Abu Dhabi as wild January weather continues
Rain is set to return to the UAE this week as temperatures cool off to just 20C in Dubai on Sunday.
It will feel even chillier in the Northern Emirates where heavier rainfall is most likely and temperatures of just 10C are forecast over higher ground, according to the latest National Centre of Meteorology report.
Abu Dhabi is also likely to see some rainfall, although it will be slightly warmer with a peak of 23C expected.
Fresh winds from the northwest will increase the risk of blowing dust and sand across the country on Sunday as gusts hit 40 kilometres an hour, particularly in open areas creating potentially hazardous driving conditions.
Fujairah and towns along the east coast are also in for a cool day with the chance of rain.
It will warm up slightly on Monday, although most areas are predicted to experience plenty of cloud cover and leaden skies.
Daytime temperatures will climb to about 25C in the capital and Dubai while it should be a dry day for all but those in the north where more showers are likely.
Although wind speeds are likely to drop significantly through the week bringing calmer waters to the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea, humidity returns on Tuesday and with it the chance of early morning fog.
Abu Dhabi is gradually returning to normal after six days of unprecedented rainfall that caused widespread disruption across the emirate earlier in January.
More than 4,000 government workers from Tadweer were deployed across Abu Dhabi in one of the nation’s largest clean-up operations in recent years.
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A municipal worker drains flood waters close to Ibn Battuta and Discovery Gardens on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Signs were blown down across the city. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A driver tries to drain water from his car near Ibn Battuta mall. Ruel Pableo for The National -
An abandoned car sits in flood water near the low-lying Discovery Gardens, one of the worst-hit areas. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Drivers were caught out by sudden downpours for a third day in a row on Sunday, with many getting stuck. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Motorists appear to have abandoned their vehicles in this image from Ibn Battuta. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A rainbow appears among the clouds in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National -
Cloudy weather once again around the Corniche area in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
High winds caused damage to many buildings, including this one in Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club area. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
Dark clouds over the skyline of Dubai with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. AFP -
The sign for Last Exit food truck park in Jebel Ali was torn by high winds. Ruel Pableo for The National -
So was this advert for Nakheel properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Torn billboards flutter in high winds on Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
The low-lying Jebel Ali area is particularly badly hit. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Flooding at a car park by lorries and buses in Jebel Ali on Sunday morning. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Municipality workers use a pump at a waterlogged road in Internet City on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Roads around Internet City were waterlogged after a fresh downpour about 7.30am on Sunday. Ruel Pableo -
Commuters head to work through Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A municipality worker clearing debris in Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo foir The National -
Rain clouds loom over the road to Abu Dhabi at 7am on Sunday morning. Commuters were hit with patches of driving rain from about 8am. Suhail Rather / The National -
Municipal workers attempt to clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality -
The National Center for Search and Rescue said the first rescue mission took place on Saturday morning when they received a report about two men being trapped due to flash floods in Wadi Ghashabah. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to the site where the two men, of Sudanese nationality, were found clinging to a tree about 50 meters away from the Wadi banks. The rescue team managed to airlift the men and take them to safety. Courtesy NSRC -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Overcast skies over Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Heavy rains in Dubai during the night caused extensive flooding at intersections within the city. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
A car drives through a waterlogged road near Al Bateen airport. Scott Walker -
A delivery van struggles to navigate flood waters near Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi on Saturday about 9am. Courtesy: Scott Walker -
A man sweeps water from the running track along Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A waiter at Burts in The Greens sweeps away some water to get ready for the business day. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Flooding in Barsha Heights. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Greens saw heavy rain that left the streets wet. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Parking areas in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai were inundated with water and residents raced to get their cars to safer spots following heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday. Courtesy: Antonie Abreu -
Flooding in Discovery Gardens. Courtesy: Antonio Abreu
Waste management teams removed close to 3,000 tonnes of green and bulky waste from drains and run-off areas to ensure a repeat of widespread flooding is avoided if heavy rains return.
“Their efforts have been crucial in returning the affected areas back to normality within a record time despite the severity of the storm,” said Dr Salem Al Kaabi, Tadweer’s general manager.
