The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is grappling with recovery efforts following record-breaking rainfall the desert nation has ever seen. Key locations, including airports and highways, found themselves engulfed by floodwaters.

Dubai International Airport, the globe’s busiest hub for international flights, managed to partially reopen Terminal 1 to international airlines. Emirates began welcoming passengers at Terminal 3 again.

Despite these steps, a full return to normal operations will take an additional day, according to Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. He had earlier voiced concerns about the storm’s potential devastation.

Efforts to drain the airport involved using 22 tankers equipped with vacuum pumps. Although the runways are now clear, taxiways were left flooded. Griffiths minimized the impact, contradicting dramatic online videos of planes landing in heavy water spray.

Travel Chaos as Record-Breaking Rainfall Disrupt Operations

The storm, which hit on Tuesday, threw Emirates’ schedule into chaos, causing significant delays and cancellations for travelers. Many passengers couldn’t check into their flights, while pilots and crew members faced difficulties reaching the airport due to the floods. By Thursday, restrictions to access Terminal 3 were lifted, leading to overcrowding.

Affected residents either endured long waits for their luggage or gave up trying to retrieve it. In just 24 hours, Dubai received over 142 millimeters of rain, more than its annual average. The storm also affected neighboring Oman, where the death toll climbed to 21.

Infrastructure Overwhelmed, Communities Struggle

The UAE’s infrastructure was ill-prepared for such flooding, leaving many areas underwater, including neighborhoods and business districts. WAM, the state news agency, called the event unparalleled since record-keeping began in 1949. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, has pledged to review and improve national infrastructure.

In Mudon, severely affected by the floods, residents took matters into their own hands, shelling out almost $2,000 on emergency services due to what they claim was a lackadaisical response from local developers. Their woes were compounded by a sewage system failure, further worsening the floods.

Experts have refuted claims that cloud seeding played a significant role in the rainfall, instead pointing to climate patterns and highlighting the influence of climate change on extreme weather occurrences. The recent COP28 climate conference in Dubai highlighted the urgent need for action.

The National, a state-affiliated newspaper, stressed that the Persian Gulf must adapt to increasingly frequent and severe climatic events. This disaster is a powerful reminder of the growing impacts of climate change, calling for immediate and ongoing efforts to enhance resilience against future catastrophes.

The record-breaking desert rainfall in the UAE has not only highlighted the vulnerability of even the most arid regions to extreme weather but also the importance of global cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. As the UAE begins its recovery process, the lessons learned from this event will likely influence policy and planning for years to come.

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