On Thursday, bad weather throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE) caused Emirates to cancel a number of flights. There have also been fewer flights at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Emirates released a statement, saying, “Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on May 2 can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled."
Due to bad weather in Dubai on 2 May, customers arriving or departing from @DXB might experience delays as some flights are rescheduled.
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) May 2, 2024
To check the status of your flight, visit https://t.co/wdbBF1JQb5 or https://t.co/yehFUeWs0S
We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.… pic.twitter.com/G88QA3NXqE
Meanwhile, intercity buses have also been suspended. Due to the bad weather, intercity bus operations are suspended by Dubai's RTA.
On May 2, Emirates flights from Dubai to Istanbul, Johannesburg, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, and Singapore have been cancelled.
No fees for rebooking
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. Affected customers will be re-accommodated. Those who wish to rebook should contact their travel agent or nearest Emirates Office. All rebooking charges will be waived." Emirates stated.
Heavy thunderstorms are forecast in Dubai on 2 May. If you’re travelling to @DXB, you may experience road delays. We recommend adding extra travel time to reach the airport, and using Dubai Metro where possible.
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) May 1, 2024
For flight updates and notifications, add your latest contact… pic.twitter.com/N5fw0nTLbG
Give your travels more time
The “adverse weather conditions in Dubai on Thursday (May 2) have caused some delays to their operations," a flydubai spokesperson said.
The representative for the Dubai-based airline continued, “Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey to DXB, whether they are travelling by car or public transport. Passengers are also advised to update their contact details via the manage booking tab and check the website for the latest updates regarding their flight."
Additionally, travellers using the Etihad bus service between Zayed International Airport and Dubai were advised by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways “to check in early for their transfer to allow additional time to reach the airport".
Restless nights
Residents of the United Arab Emirates had a restless night's sleep on Thursday as severe winds and pouring rain battered most of the nation between 2am and 4am.
Earlier, the National Center of Meteorology stated that the weather situation was not expected to be as bad as it was on April 16. It predicted that the nation would experience moderate to intense rainfall over a large area, with sporadic lightning and thunder and a chance of hail.
Also Read: Heavy rain forecast: Two-day holiday announced in Dubai
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority gave a statement on Monday stating that it was ready for the unpredictable weather.
Strong winds caused some trees, garbage cans, and billboards to fall, but as of 6:30am on Thursday, there had been no flooding reported in Dubai South. In the meantime, a few stores covered their doors with plastic sheets and masking tape to create makeshift rain barriers. A few placed tiny sandbags at the entrance.
An alert for "medium to heavy rains" was previously issued by the government for Thursday and Friday. Additionally, authorities have announced that government workers will now be able to work remotely and have advised employers in the private sector to do the same.
At 3am, lightning and thunderstorms woke up Azeeja Amanda, a resident of Mudon. “As soon as I woke up, I ran downstairs and put towels all around my front door,” the woman recalled.
Also Read: UAE orders remote work, distance learning over heavy rain forecast
During the rainy and subsequent flooding on April 16, Mudon was one of the most severely affected areas in Dubai. Many locals had to utilize kayaks to evacuate and save their neighbours. Authorities, according to Azeeja, took a number of actions to guarantee the community's safety this time.
“A tunnel on E611 has been closed since Wednesday evening,” she said. “It has been completely flooded last time so I believe this was a precautionary measure. Also, several layers of sandbags had been put up all around the community. I am glad that authorities have put in place such measures this time. It makes me feel safer.”
People from across the nation shared their experiences on social media. There have been reports of violent storms, heavy rain, and wind in different areas of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
“We had the most violent and scary winds Wednesday night,” Sharjah resident Saadiya Ahmed of Al Majaz 1 in Sharjah said. “Our neighbour’s garden furniture literally flew away. This wind continued for quite some time followed by rain.”
