2024 United Arab Emirates floods

Natural disaster in United Arab Emirates

2024 United Arab Emirates floods

Flood View at Al Mizhar in Dubai

Date| April 16th 2024
Location| Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi and the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah
Cause| Heavy rains
Deaths| 5
Property damage| US$2.9–3.4 billion[1]

On April 16th 2024, heavy rains caused floods in the United Arab Emirates, affected cities of mainly Dubai and Sharjah, the northern Emirates, and various areas of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.[2] According to the National Center for Meteorology (United Arab Emirates), this was the country's heaviest rainfall recorded in 75 years.[3][4][5] The floods in the Emirates were a part of the greater Persian Gulf floods.[6]

## The storm

[edit]

The rains began in UAE late on Monday, 15 April 2024, intensifying the next day on Tuesday, 16 April 2024, and officially concluding on Wednesday, 17 April 2024.[7] The UAE witnessed a record-breaking rainfall in a 24 hour period, surpassing Emirati meteorological data since records began in 1949. According to the National Centre of Meteorology, the highest rainfall was recorded in the Khatm Al Shakla area in Al Ain, reaching 254.8 mm (10.03 in) in less than 24 hours.[8] Widespread flooding was reported in all seven emirates.[9] Ahead of the flooding, an estimated rainfall of 40 mm (1.6 in), up to 100 mm (3.9 in) was estimated in some parts of the UAE.[10]

## Impact

[edit]

Five people were confirmed dead;[11] Three Filipinos, an Emirati elderly man,[12] and a Pakistani man in his 50s who drowned after the municipality tanker he was driving was swept into a wadi.[13] Guy Carpenter estimated the insurance loss was US$2.9–3.4 billion.[1]

### Transit

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Dubai floods seen from space - 17 April 2024

Dubai Metro services were severely impacted, leaving around 200 commuters stranded at several stations. MA highway through Dubai was reduced to a single lane in one direction, while the E11 Road that connects Dubai with the capital Abu Dhabi was closed in the Abu Dhabi direction.[14] Intercity bus service on the Dubai \- Abu Dhabi, Dubai \- Sharjah, and Dubai \- Ajman routes were suspended [15][16]

A total of 1,244 flights at Dubai International Airport were cancelled over a two-day period with 41 diverted. All Flydubai flights scheduled for departure on 16 April from Dubai were cancelled. At the Dubai airport, a total of 164 mm (6.45 in) of rain fell.[17][18][19][20]

## Cause

[edit]

The cause of this flooding was mainly due to a trough along with the Sudan low, a low pressure system centered on Sudan, originating from the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Climate change reduced the temperature gradient between the equator and the North Pole, causing the subtropical jet stream to slow down. This made the cooler air move southward more easily, and thus resulted in more frequent and stronger trough formation in the area. The trough formed over the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, then after moving southward and combining with the Sudan low, transformed from a thermodynamic low pressure system to a dynamic low pressure system. The low pressure system then collected a massive amount of warm and moist air from nearby bodies of water, which were warmer than usual because of climate change. Thus, the warm air ascended and condensed, leading to a downpour and consequently, the resulting flooding. [21]

## Response

[edit]

The Emirati National Center for Meteorology had issued various orange and yellow warnings for heavy rainfall and strong winds.[22][23]

The United Arab Emirates' National Meteorological Center issued a red weather alert and, in addition to the core response, government employees were advised to work from home in the immediate aftermath of the floods while the guidance for private organizations showed the same. Some schools and colleges were also closed during the flooding. In Sharjah, many heavy machinery companies provided equipment to aid in clearing the streets and repair in response to the heavy flooding with various machinery such as wheel loaders, skid steer loaders, forklifts, and street sweepers, to help move stranded vehicles, clear debris, and expedite the drying process.[24]

The United Arab Emirates announced 2 billion dirhams (US$544.6 million) to deal with damage to flooded homes. [25][26]

Authorities declared that posting false news, fake images or rumors about the floods were criminal offenses under the country's cybercrime laws.[27]

## See also

[edit]

* 2022 United Arab Emirates floods
* 2024 Persian Gulf floods
* National Center for Meteorology (United Arab Emirates)

## References

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1. ^ a b "Post-Event Report: Gulf Floods Update - September 2024". Guy Carpenter. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
2. ^ "Look: Top UAE places hit by floods after record rains".
3. ^ "Chaos in Dubai as UAE records heaviest rainfall in 75 years". 17 April 2024.
4. ^ Ahmad, Reged; Tondo, Lorenzo; Holmes, Oliver (17 April 2024). "Desert city of Dubai floods as heaviest rainfall in 75 years hits UAE". The Guardian.
5. ^ "Dubai floods: India advises its citizens to reschedule non-essential travel as UAE reels through historic floods". The Hindu. 19 April 2024.
6. ^ "MSN". MSN.
7. ^ Mair, Findlay (17 April 2024). "UAE confirms the end of worst ever storm". TimeOut UAE. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
8. ^ "UAE witnesses record-breaking rains, highest in 75 years". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
9. ^ "Dubai flights: All arrivals diverted away from airport amid floods and rain in UAE". The National. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
10. ^ "Weather tracker: Gulf braced for thunderstorms". The Guardian. 15 April 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
11. ^ "Four dead in UAE, Dubai airport still disrupted after storm". Reuters. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
12. ^ "Three Filipinos dead in UAE floods: Officials". 19 April 2024.
13. ^ Ali, Aghaddir (20 April 2024). "UAE rains: Municipality worker drowns after tanker swept away by floodwaters in Al Dhaid region". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
14. ^ "UAE roads today: Which ones are closed, flooded, clear? Here are the latest updates". Khaleej Times.
15. ^ "Dubai rain: Flights, metro services disrupted. Check details before travelling". Hindustan Times. 17 April 2024.
16. ^ Dhanjal, Ajanta Paul, Meher. "As it happened: Rains disrupt Dubai Metro services, cause traffic diversions on Sheikh Zayed Road". Khaleej Times.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
17. ^ "Dubai rain: Airport flooded, India flights hit; schools shut, cars underwater | Top updates". Hindustan Times. 17 April 2024.
18. ^ Ebrahim, Barry Neild, Mostafa Salem, Francesca Street, Nadeen (18 April 2024). "Dubai airport struggles to resume flights after heavy rains leave runways underwater". CNN.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
19. ^ "Dubai airport re-opens after UAE suffers heavy rain". 18 April 2024 – via www.bbc.com.
20. ^ "Video: Dubai Airport Flooded, Flights Diverted After Heavy Rain". NDTV.com.
21. ^ mohsen, mohsen. "the reasons of wet spring in Iran and southwest asia". isna.ir. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
22. ^ "UAE weather: Heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast from Monday". 14 April 2024.
23. ^ "UAE weather: More rain on the way this week". 15 April 2024.
24. ^ White, Stephen (8 May 2024). "How Al Marwan Machinery mobilised for the floods". Construction Machinery Middle East News. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
25. ^ "UAE announces Dh2bn fund to support Emiratis affected by floods". 24 April 2024.
26. ^ "UAE announces $544.6 million to repair homes: How the flood-hit country is inching back to normalcy". 25 April 2024.
27. ^ "It's illegal to take this photo". The Independent. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2024.

## Further reading

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* Almheiri, Khalid B.; Rustum, Rabee; Wright, Grant; Adeloye, Adebayo J. (May 2024). "The Necessity of Updating IDF Curves for the Sharjah Emirate, UAE: A Comparative Analysis of 2020 IDF Values in Light of Recent Urban Flooding (April 2024)". Water. 16 (18): 2621.

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