Heavy rains lash UAE again; flights cancelled, schools and offices shut

An orange alert was issued in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday as heavy rains lashed the country, just days after it experienced massive flooding in April. This led to several flight cancellations and delays in and out of Dubai.

Over the past few days, the UAE has been preparing for this wave of unstable weather, which was forecasted to peak on May 2 and continue till May 3.

Authorities have advised people to take safety measures. Schools have shifted to distance learning, and companies have been asked to allow employees to work from home. Parks and beaches have also been closed.

Additionally, Dubai announced work from home for government employees on May 2 and May 3 due to the unstable weather conditions.

The UAE’s disaster management authority reiterated on Wednesday that the nation is well-prepared to handle the upcoming weather conditions. They stated that all relevant agencies are ready to implement measures to address the anticipated weather fluctuations.

Earlier, an expert from the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) stated that the impending weather conditions are not expected to be as severe as the rainfall seen on April 16. Officials have discussed precautionary measures that must be taken during this time.

As per reports, five inbound flights to Dubai Airport were diverted overnight on May 2, and nine arrivals and four outbound flights were cancelled.

Flight operations at Dubai International Airport have been scaled back.

(Inputs: ANI)