Authorities and communities across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were clearing rubble after a heavy downpour killed at least one person and damaged homes and businesses, Reuters reports.
The UAE recorded a record rainfall of 254mm in Al Ain in less than 24 hours on Tuesday, according to the national meteorological centre. This is the highest since records began in 1949, before the country was established in 1971.
Although the heavy rains subsided by late Tuesday, disruption continued today as Emirates suspended the check-in of passengers departing from Dubai Airport until midnight.
Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, said it was facing significant disruption after heavy rain delayed or diverted flights and affected flight crews.
Passengers departing from Dubai have been advised not to go to the airport and to check their flight status with their airline.
"We are working hard to restore operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions," the airport wrote on IX.
"Emirates" announced that the process related to passengers who were already in transit will continue, but warned that delays in departures and arrivals should be expected. The Dubai airport website showed delays of several hours for some arriving and departing flights.
Local media reported that an elderly Emirati man in his seventies died on Tuesday morning when his vehicle was swept away by flash floods in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
In neighboring Oman, 19 people have died, including school-going children, after three consecutive days of heavy rain, according to Omani media, which published images of flooded communities.
The Times of Oman reported that more rain was expected. Skies were clear in Dubai, but roads were quiet in some areas after the government ordered employees and all schools to work remotely for the second day in a row.
UAE media and social media posts showed significant damage from heavy downpours in some parts of the country, including collapsed roads and flooded homes.
Posts on social media since Tuesday show flooded roads and parking lots with vehicles, some completely submerged. Sheikh Zayed Road, a 12-lane highway through Dubai, was partially flooded, leaving people stuck in kilometers of traffic jams for hours.
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