Non-stop amounts of rainfall in the United Arab Emirates area have led to massive flooding around the country. On Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024, about 4 inches of rain fell in the span of just 12 hours; that’s about how much rain the nation receives annually. The precipitation caused streets to be flooded and trees to be uprooted. The rainfall continued on Wednesday, moving eastward and impacting some parts of Iran and Pakistan. In some parts of Dubai, people witnessed up to 10 inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours- the heaviest the country has seen in 75 years. According to the country’s National Committee for Emergency Management, at least 18 people were killed in Oman as a result of flash flooding. Sheik Mohammed, the current ruler of Dubai, has urged a response to act quickly and support those who were affected following the devastating storm.

As a result of climate change brought on by humans, heavy rains such as these are happening more frequently, as the atmosphere continues to warm. Like a towel, a warmer environment can absorb more moisture and release it as floods. The extreme rain can also be linked to a larger storm moving across the Gulf of Oman. The intense rain has also interrupted travel operations, with some videos showing the Dubai International Airport flooded in water as enormous planes try flying through floods. Waves surged over the deep water, and large jets blasted water in their wake, making them appear more like boats flying through the flooded airport. The Dubai International Airport was recently named the second-busiest airport in the world, with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta ranking first. Hundreds of people were left stranded due to the majority of flights being grounded. Dubai International warned people “NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary,” saying flights continue to be delayed and diverted.

Emirates United customers were also furious on social media, saying they received no aid from staff and were not able to reach out to the company directly. After the historic rainfalls, Emirates Airlines CEO Tim Clark apologized in a letter sent to customers over the weekend: “I would like to offer our most sincere apologies to every customer who has had their travel plans disrupted during this time,” the company chief said. “We know our response has been far from perfect. We acknowledge and understand the frustration of our customers due to the congestion, lack of information, and confusion in the terminals. We acknowledge that the long queues and wait times have been unacceptable.”