School’s out: Dubai family make use of flooded streets

Children play in the rain in Jumeirah, Dubai. Courtesy Nicki Whittaker

DUBAI // While the rest of the UAE sought shelter from Wednesday’s thunderstorm, the O’Regan family rolled up their trousers, donned their swimming costumes and made the most of a very wet situation.

The huge puddle that formed outside of the family’s home in near Safa park was no obstacle to a fun afternoon, with youngsters Emma, William and Jackson diving into their very own waterpark on their doorstep.

As the rain lashed down, the water became deep enough for the children to bring out an inflatable boat and splash around the neighbourhood.

"My daughter wanted to go for a swim," explained mum Nicki who picked the children up early from school after classes were cancelled due to the bad weather.

Although they made splashing about in the water look like a lot of fun, the excitement was tempered by the chilly temperature, admitted Emma.

“It was a lot of fun. I’d go out and play again if it wasn’t freezing,” said Emma, who along with her siblings was intent on making the most of the situation before the water recedes and life on dry land returns back to normal.

However, with the announcement that classes on Thursday have been cancelled across the UAE on the orders Ministry of Education officials and with more rain predicted, the O’Regan family might be sailing around their neighbourhood for a while longer.