Major rainstorm causes flooding in Dubai

A major rainstorm caused widespread flooding in Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates, as unusually heavy rainfall overwhelmed streets, transport networks, and urban areas not typically designed for large volumes of water. In mid‑December 2025, a powerful weather system brought intense rain, thunderstorms, and lightning to Dubai and neighbouring emirates, prompting official warnings for residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and urging businesses to allow staff to work from home due to hazardous conditions. The National Center of Meteorology forecast heavy rainfall across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates, and police and emergency services responded to thousands of calls for assistance as roads became waterlogged and traffic was disrupted. The storm led to significant flooding on key streets and highways and forced flight cancellations and delays at Dubai International and Sharjah airports, with Emirates grounding multiple flights as conditions worsened. Water accumulated rapidly on urban roads and wadis (dry valleys), and authorities deployed flood‑management teams and drainage pumps to clear standing water and keep traffic moving. The severe weather revived memories of record rain and flooding in April 2024, when the UAE experienced its heaviest rainfall in decades, underscoring both the rarity and impact of such events in the region’s desert climate. Experts note that intense storms like this can overwhelm local drainage infrastructure and create hazardous conditions for residents and travellers.