Dubai airport flooding: Flights delayed or cancelled

Passengers asked to check timings with airlines

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

Latest: Enough rumours, cloud seeding had nothing to do with UAE's three-day rain storm

Flights at Dubai International Airport faced continued disruption on Sunday, with more cancellations caused by overnight flooding.

Heavy rainfall caused disruption to several flights at DXB, with Emirates airline advising passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Customers affected by flight cancellations are automatically rebooked on the next available flight,” an Emirates spokesman said.

“Customers are being contacted and sent their updated booking to the email address registered with Emirates at the time of booking.”

Airport operators were working closely with airlines on Sunday morning to minimise disruption.

“Dubai Airports can confirm that due to heavy rainfall and flooding earlier today, Dubai International (DXB) is experiencing operational disruptions,” an official said.

“We are working closely with our service partners to get back to full operations as soon as possible, however, flight delays are expected to continue through the day with some cancellations and diversions to Dubai World Central (DWC).”

Passengers were asked to check revised times with airlines and allow sufficient time to reach the airport.

The Roads and Transport Authority urged residents to use the metro in Dubai to avoid traffic snarls as commuters reported being stranded on the roads for hours.

Dubai Media Office tweeted that “ponds” had formed in some areas due to “unusually heavy rain” of 150mm per hour for more than two hours.

Transport authorities said service centres, vehicle inspection centres and driving institutes would remain shut on Saturday due to adverse weather conditions.

The National Centre of Meteorology sent out an alert warning residents to be extremely vigilant. The centre forecast “hazardous weather events of exceptional severity” throughout the day with thunder, heavy rain in the Northern Emirates and eastern areas.

“Freezing rain” was expected in the mountain areas and rainfall would continue for the next two days, the centre said.

Chilly temperatures will persist across the country with the mercury expected to dip 4 to 6 degrees through the week.

Mountain areas such as Jebel Jais will have minimum temperatures as low as  0°C, internal areas will range between 9°C to 14°C and coastal areas will stay at 10°C to 15°C.

“We are expecting freezing rain and freezing of accumulated water in the mountains,” said an official with the meteorological centre.

“The main warning is now over the sea with strong northwesterly winds over the Arabian Gulf and the Oman sea.”

Wind speeds in the Arabian Gulf were at 30 knots with waves up to 12 feet.

Rainfall is expected to continue on Sunday across northern, eastern and southern areas from Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain to Asab.

UAE residents such as Antonio Abreu woke up to find the water levels rising in the parking areas near his home in Discovery Gardens and shifted his vehicle to safer ground at Ibn Battuta Mall nearby.

“Many cars are stuck. I managed to take my car out and moved the car slowly so as not to get water in the engine because it is almost like a river in some parts,” he said.

“This happens every year here when there is heavy rain. I hope they finally will solve this flooding problem.”

Some sites such as Global Village announced they would stay shut for the day until conditions improved.