Heavy rain across the UAE on Tuesday threw daily routines out of gear. The downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, began Monday night and continued through Tuesday. The National Centre of Meteorology expected unstable weather to last until Wednesday evening. Here are the latest updates from across the UAE.
Private firms urged to adopt ‘flexible’ work
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has urged private sector companies across the UAE to apply flexible work patterns in light of the weather fluctuations that the UAE has witnessed in the past two days.
Crowding at DXB Terminal 1
To ensure a smooth travel experience, access to Dubai International Airport (DXB) Terminal 1 is strictly limited to guests with confirmed departing flights.
DXB urged passengers "NOT to come to Terminal 1 at the airport before confirming your flight status with your airline. Re-booking facilities are not available on-site."
Abu Dhabi: Distance learning for all schools extended for 2 days
Distance learning has been extended for all schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi until Friday, April 19, Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) announced on Wednesday.
UAE: Remote work for government employees extended
Based on the directives of the UAE Cabinet, it has been decided to extend remote work on Thursday and Friday, 18 and 19 April 2024 for all the federal government employees, except for positions that require presence at the workplace
The decision has been taken in consideration of the extreme weather conditions the country experienced.
Dubai extends remote work for public sector
Dubai government has extended remote working hours for employees of all its entities through Thursday and Friday, 18 and 19 April 2024. The decision applies to all government employees, except for roles that require on-site presence at the workplace.
UAE experiences heaviest rainfall in 75 years
Photos: Heavy rain floods streets in Sharjah
Dubai Metro operational status update
Dubai Metro service is operating normally at the following stations.
Red Line
- From Centrepoint Station to GGICO Metro Station
- From Burjuman Station to Business bay Station
- From Jebel Ali Station to Expo 2020 Station
Green Line
- From etisalat by e& to Abu Hail Station
- From Creek Station to Al Ras Station
Bus services are available between the affected stations.
Update: Dubai Metro service is back on these stations
Dubai Metro service is back on the following stations: Emirates Towers, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, financial center and Business bay, work is ongoing to open the rest of the stations gradually.
Sharjah provides shelter for rain-affected families
In response to heavy rains that flooded some residences in Sharjah, affected families have been provided shelter in hotels, an official announced on Wednesday.
Restoring services in Dubai
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is working hard to quickly restore services due to recent weather disruptions, ensuring easy and comfortable mobility for all.
Dubai's famous landmark to stay closed
Global Village is closed on Wednesday, April 17, due to the impact of unstable weather conditions. Dubai's famous landmark will be open on Thursday, April 18, as it makes preparations to ensure your visit will be even more wonderful.
Dubai extends remote learning for private schools
Government of Dubai extends remote learning for private schools through Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19.
UAE extends remote learning for government schools on April 18-19
The Emirates School Education Foundation has extended remote learning for all government schools across the country on Thursday and Friday, April 18 and 19, 2024. This decision aims to ensure the safety and security of both students and teaching staff by allowing schools and their surrounding areas additional time to prepare for their return.
Watch: Dubai Police save cat from drowning
Dubai Police's emergency response team swiftly rescued a cat trapped in waterlogged areas. The authorities released footage on X showcasing the rescue. The video is captioned with a heartwarming message: "Every life counts in Dubai."
Distance learning extended for private schools in Sharjah
Sharjah has decided to extend remote learning for all private schools in the emirate into tomorrow, Thursday, April 18th. The decision aims to ensure the safety of students and staff during adverse weather conditions.
Sharjah government extends remote work until tomorrow
The Sharjah Department of Human Resources has extended remote work for employees of all government entities in the emirate until tomorrow (Thursday, April 18), due to the prevailing weather conditions. This excludes jobs that require employees' physical presence at the workplace.
Look: Dubai ramps up response to weather fluctuations
Dubai Municipality is intensifying its efforts to address the current weather fluctuations in Dubai. The municipality is working closely with government partners to improve the speed of emergency response and streamline immediate decision-making processes.
Dubai Tram back to normal schedule
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the Dubai Tram is currently operating according to its regular schedule.
To all Dubai Tram passengers, we're pleased to inform you that Dubai Tram is operating according to its regular schedule. Thank you for your cooperation," the RTA said in a statement.
flydubai resumes partial operations
Dubai's flydubai has partially resumed operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) as of 10am today.
"Select outbound flights will depart from Terminal 2," a flydubai spokesperson explained. "Scheduled operations will resume for all terminals after 8 pm (local time)."
However, the airline acknowledges ongoing challenges due to the severe weather. Flight cancellations continue today due to operational disruptions and difficult road conditions.
"We are working diligently to restore our full schedule and minimize passenger inconvenience," the spokesperson said. "Our priority remains getting passengers to their final destinations safely. We apologize for any disruptions caused by the adverse weather."
Abu Dhabi tackles heavy rains
Early Wednesday morning, Abu Dhabi swung into action after experiencing significant rainfall. Emergency services personnel were deployed to address the situation. Authorities urged residents to prioritise safety by staying indoors and avoiding areas prone to flooding, such as valleys and low-lying areas where water accumulates.
Limited service on Dubai Metro Green Line
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) advises passengers that the Green Line is currently operating on a limited schedule.
Trains are running only between the following stations:
Etisalat by e& station to Abu Hail Station
Creek Station to Al Ras Station
"Bus services are available to transport passengers between the closed stations. Please plan your trip accordingly and check the RTA website or app for the latest updates," RTA said on X
Umm Al Quwain road closures
Due to heavy rain and flooding, Umm Al Quwain Police are implementing the following road closures:
Emirates Road: Closed in both directions after Exit (95) for traffic traveling from Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah.
Sheikh Zayed Road: Closed in both directions opposite the "Bayata" area in Umm Al Quwain due to traffic congestion.
Diversion: Traffic from Emirates Road will be diverted to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street.
Wadi Al Batha and other roads are experiencing flooding. Please avoid these areas and use alternative routes.
Dubai Metro Update: Red Line operating on specific routes
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced limited service on the Red Line today. Trains are currently operating only on these routes:
Centrepoint Station to GGICO Station
BurJuman Station to World Trade Centre Station
Jabal Ali Station to Expo 2020 Station
"Bus services are available at stations not currently served by trains. We recommend checking the RTA website or app for the latest updates and planning your trip accordingly," RTA said on X.
Traffic diversion on Abu Dhabi road
Abu Dhabi Police has announced traffic diversion from Arabian Gulf street towards the Abu Dhabi Al Ain Road exit.
Speed limits back to normal
Abu Dhabi Police announced that speed limits on the emirate's external roads have returned to normal following their earlier temporary reduction on Tuesday. This reduction, implemented on a key road within the emirate, aimed to enhance road safety for motorists during challenging weather conditions of heavy rain and wind.
Traffic diversion
Abu Dhabi Police has announced a traffic diversion on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street following a day of heavy rains that lashed different parts of the country.
"Due to traffic congestion, Al Khaleej Al Arabi St. towards Khalifa City (Rabdan) is diverted to the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Rd exit. Please use alternative routes," the post read.
Dubai airports advise passengers to delay travel
Dubai International Airport (DXB) urges passengers to hold off on traveling to the airport unless absolutely necessary. Torrential rain caused flooding across the emirate, leading to flight delays and diversions.
"Due to the unprecedented weather situation, we advise passengers to delay their arrival at DXB," a spokesperson said. "Flight operations are experiencing delays and diversions. Please contact your airline directly for the latest information on your specific flight."
"Our teams are working diligently to restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible under these challenging circumstances."
Emirates suspends check-in for passengers
Dubai's Emirates airline has suspended check-in for passengers departing from Dubai airports on Wednesday due to heavy rains.
The airline said on its social media handles that passengers should expect delays in departures and arrivals.
"Emirates is suspending check-in for passengers departing DUbai airports from 8:00am on 17 April until midnight, due to operational challenges caused by bad weather and road conditions. Affected customers can contact their booking agent or visit https://emirat.es/support for rebooking,” the airline said.
Traffic diverted from Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced a traffic diversion on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road towards Sharjah on Wednesday after heavy rains.
In an update on their social media handle, the RTA advised drivers to use alternative route.
"For those headed towards Sharjah on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, traffic has been diverted to Dubai-Al Ain Road, which leads to Emirates Road," the post read.
