Featured Image Credit: X/TheKamalGK
Topics: Travel, Weather, World News
Jess Battison
Most of us can be confident we won't need to bring our umbrellas if we're planning a trip to Dubai. After all, the desert city only sees an average of 94.7mm (3.7 inches) of rain each year.
Which is why it was strange to see Dubai 'underwater' after the influencer hotspot received two year's worth of rain in 24 hours.
Take a look at the eerie scenes below:
Yep, it's not the usual vibe for the picture perfect holiday destination, is it?
Flights were recently diverted (and some cancelled) from Dubai International Airport as homes, metro stations and many roads were flooded.
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Snaps on social media even show people having to wade through water after getting off trains.
The airport wrote on X in the early hours of this morning (17 April): “We are currently experiencing significant disruption due to the weather and are continuously working with our emergency response teams and service partners to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
“Flooding and road blockages have left limited transport options for arriving and departing guests.
"Flights are delayed/diverted and impacted by displaced crew. Recovery will take some time.
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"We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges.”
And a recent post advises people ‘NOT to come to the airport’ - an absolute nightmare for holidaygoers.
Videos online show jumbo jets battling against the crazy conditions as water floods onto the runway. Other photos show men pushing cars through knee-high puddles of water as many are left stranded – with a Rolls Royce looking sad in a flowing river.
A user on X shared various clips of the ‘strange weather’ as the airport practically looks like a lake.
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And many of the high-rise buildings look like something from a dystopian movie as lightning flashes around them, and litter circles around in the wind with the daytime sky completely grey and dark
Shopping malls seem to have their own rivers flowing through them as people say Dubai is ‘underwater’.
According to ABC News, over half a foot - 6.12 inches - of rain fell between 10pm Monday (April 15) and 10pm Tuesday (April 16), almost what the city normally receives in two years.
What's even more unusual is Dubai usually receives 92 percent of its rain between November and March, and only 0.13 inches in April.
The culprit behind the event is likely to be - you guessed it - human-caused climate change, which according to a 2023 government report will send more extreme rain, heatwaves and wildfires our way.