How UAE battled floods, cleared roads and returned to normalcy after heavy rains

Unstable weather continues

The country witnessed heavy rainfall, hail and thunderstorms on Thursday, December 18, which continued on Friday, December 19 as authorities issued warnings asking residents to stay alert and exercise caution.

The met department issued orange and yellow alerts, cautioning residents to not go outdoors unless absolutely necessary.

Visuals of waterlogged streets, storm and lightning from several emirates surfaced through the night. Residents were forced to adapt as regular travel was affected.

Emergency response vehicles were deployed across affected areas, and recovery trucks stood ready to assist stranded motorists.

Flight cancellations for Dec 19

The following Emirates flights have been cancelled today, December 19:

EK977/978 Dubai/Tehran/Dubai

EK823/824 Dubai/Dammam/Dubai

EK945/946 Dubai/Basra/Dubai

EK866/867 Dubai/Muscat/Dubai

EK853/854 Dubai/Kuwait/Dubai

EK835/836 Dubai/Bahrain/Dubai

EK837/838 Dubai/Bahrain/Dubai

EK705/796 Dubai/Seychelles/Dubai

EK656/657 Dubai/Male/Dubai

EK650/651 Dubai/Colombo/Dubai

EK636/637 Dubai/Peshawar/Dubai

EK043/44 Dubai/Frankfurt/Dubai

EK322/323 Dubai/Incheon/Dubai

Emirates urged its customers to check their flight status by visiting the airline website for the latest information regarding their flights.

More rain expected

The National Center of Meteorology has issued fresh alerts, warning residents of more rain across the country from 4:30am to 10:30am on Friday. Yellow alert was issued for almost all of UAE, with orange alerts for major parts of several emirates. Take a look:

Waterlogged streets in Dubai

Overnight rain led to waterlogged streets in several parts of the emirate. Around 5:30am, Dubai’s RTA noted that its Joint Flood Management Room was taking action to address rainwater pooling across the emirate.

Dubai Police advisory

“Given the current weather conditions across the country, characterized by rains, strong winds, thunder, lightning, and sometimes hail, reducing visibility, road users are advised to abide by following the instructions of competent authorities. Let’s strive together for a safer and more secure community,” Dubai Police said in an advisory on Friday morning.

Schools asked to take precautions

Due to unstable weather conditions expected over the coming days, and in line with guidance from UAE authorities, Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority urged all private educational institutions in the emirate to take extra precautions and put the safety of their staff first.

“Where possible, schools are encouraged to consider flexible or alternative work arrangements as part of their preventive measures. We are also aware that some schools and early childhood centers may be holding classes and extracurricular activities during the holidays. However, we strongly advise against organizing any outdoor or off-campus activities for students during this period to ensure their safety,” they said.

Bus services suspended

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has informed of suspension of intercity bus services to and from the emirates of Ajman and Sharjah until further notice, due to the current weather conditions.

Exits closed in Umm Al Quwain

Umm Al Quwain Police informed of closure of exits on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street until further notice.

Temperatures dip

Amid unstable weather, the lowest temperature recorded in the country Friday morning was 8.5°C in Al Ghewaifat (Al Dhafrah Region) at 7:45am.

Life Camps – Winter Edition programmes suspended

Dubai’s KHDA announced that due to adverse weather conditions, current weekend activities under the Life Camps — Winter Edition programmes will be temporarily suspended. Activities will resume as per the approved schedules starting next week, they said.

A workshop scheduled to take place on December 20, 2025 as part of the Family Day initiative at Ummi Habiba’s Happiness Farm, has also been postponed until December 27, 2025 due to adverse weather conditions, the KHDA announced.

A glimpse of the sun

The sun is slowly breaking through the clouds, according to readers in parts of Dubai, such as Karama and Al Mamzar. See images below:

Waterlogged streets across emirates

Several roads across emirates remained flooded on Friday morning, with some areas reporting of water leaking into their homes. KT readers shared photos from across emirates with us.

Driving test centres closed in Ras Al Khaimah

Authorities in Ras Al Khaimah have announced the closure of the ENOC (Registration) Centre, Al Ghurair Vehicle Inspection Centre (Al Qusais), and Al Saeedi Technical Inspection Centre, and the postponement of driver testing due to the prevailing weather conditions and in the interest of everyone’s safety, on Thursday, 19 December, until further notice.

Connections down

Residents in Al Ghadeer, Abu Dhabi are reporting utility connection issues after rains finally hit their area overnight. “The electricity is out in parts of my house. The bathroom ceiling in the master bedroom is also leaking,” said a tenant living in Phase 2.

A second resident confirmed their electricity and Wi-Fi connections were also down, while others noted their air conditioning breakers seem to have tripped during the night.

Cars stranded

Commuters were stranded amid flooded roads in Dubai, Sharjah

Customer Happiness Centers closed

Due to adverse weather conditions, Customer Happiness Centers in Ajman City, Masfout, and Manama will be closed on Friday, 19 December 2025, while services will continue to be provided through the official website and smart applications.

Residents stuck in traffic

Dubai resident Zainab who has a flight at 12pm today said she rechecked her flight status and it is on time. “I left home at 8:30am to get to the airport on time,” she said. “For the last 30 minutes I have been in the vicinity of the Terminal 2 but I’m stuck in traffic because of water logging on the streets. I am glad I left early.”

Roads blocked

Some roads have been blocked off by authorities after the intense rains last night. On Sheikh Zayed Road, Exit 50 and 51 towards Jumeirah and Dubai Mall near the first interchange have been blocked by Dubai Police, causing some tailbacks.

Flights delayed, cancelled

DXB warned passengers that due to adverse weather, some flights are delayed or cancelled and there is water accumulation on some roads, urging them to allow extra time to reach DXB or use the Dubai Metro.

Taxi drivers take a break

Some taxi drivers have taken a respite from the rains and temporarily parked their vehicles at a public parking lot in Mankhool area early Friday morning. In the photo shared with Khaleej Times by Dubai resident Abdul Raheem, 49, who works as a building caretaker, he said some taxi drivers opted to take a break to avoid some waterlogged streets brought about by the overnight rains.

Flydubai operations affected

Select flights via flydubai have been cancelled, delayed or diverted due to the continuing adverse weather conditions, a spokesperson for the Dubai-based carrier confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday morning.

“The weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the day (19 December). Passengers are advised to allow sufficient time for their journey to the airport and to visit flydubai.com for the latest updates,” flydubai noted.

“Our priority is to minimise the disruption to impacted passengers and we are working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure our customers reach their final destinations as soon as possible during this busy travel period,” added the spokesperson, underscoring: “The safety of our passengers and crew is always our priority.

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused as a result of the adverse weather.”

Wading to work

Some employees were spotted braving the adverse weather to report to work.

Watch: Landslide in RAK

KT reader Muhammad Ali said that he and his friends were among over 300 people stuck at Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah after a landslide struck the area in the heavy rains last night. The Dubai resident went to the mountain at 11pm at night on Thursday night.

Driving through water

Cars navigate waterlogged roads in Al Ithihad Road, Dubai to Sharjah.

Workers at outdoor sites cautioned

Sharjah Police urged everyone to exercise utmost caution and vigilance at work sites, given the current weather conditions.

Gushing wadis

UAE rain chasers shared videos of overflowing valleys in Ras Al Khaimah.

Burj Khalifa in the rain

A KT reader sent a stunning photo of the world’s tallest building and Dubai’s downtown area in the rain. Take a look:

Emirates Petroleum station closed, driver tests postponed

Due to fluctuating weather conditions, the Traffic and Licensing Services Center at Umm Al Quwain has announced the temporary closure of the Emirates Petroleum (Shamil Station), with licensing services redirected to the Traffic and Licensing Services Center. Vehicle inspections will be redirected to ADNOC Umm Al Quwain and Global Technical Services. This will remain in effect until further notice.

Additionally, all driver tests for all categories at driving institutes scheduled for Friday, 19 December 2025, and Sunday, 21 December 2025, have been postponed to Monday, 22 December 2025.

Vehicles damaged

KT reader Sarah said that she spotted at least three vehicles damaged after the ground of an unpaved sandy lot gave away in the heavy rains last night. The incident occurred in Muhaisnah 4.

Round-the-clock operations

Dubai Police teams are continuing round-the-clock operations as heavy rains hit the emirate. Officers are actively managing traffic and ensuring the safety of residents, as part of an integrated operational plan designed for rapid field response during adverse weather conditions.

Check out the photos below:

Dubai Municipality Team on high alert

Dubai Municipality crews remain in a state of “high readiness” across the emirate, working continuously to address the impacts of changing weather.

From draining water accumulations to responding swiftly to reports, teams are operating continuously to ensure public safety and maintain smooth traffic flow throughout Dubai.

Workers help keep life moving

After the heavy rains, workers carefully navigated through flooded streets, moving supplies and helping keep life moving despite the waterlogged roads.

Sharjah skies begin to clear

Slowly, the sky over Sharjah began to clear, casting a warm glow over streets still glistening from the downpour — a quiet reminder of the city’s resilience and the calm after the storm.

Handling emergencies in Sharjah

The technical teams of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority are making efforts at all sites to handle any emergency cases resulting from the rains.

Red in the rain

Food trucks in Sharjah covered to protect them from the rain.

Simbang Gabi to resume today

All activities, events and masses, including the outdoor Simbang Gabi (traditional nine-day evening mass ahead of Christmas), will resume today, St Mary’s Catholic Church-Dubai posted on its official Facebook account on Friday.

Church activities were cancelled on Thursday, following the inclement weather.

“We would like to inform you that, following the improvement in weather conditions, all activities, events, masses and prayers will continue, provided that all applicable safety and regulatory procedures are strictly observed. Accordingly, all in-person church activities will resume from the 12noon Mass today onwards,” said the announcement

Dubai main roads clear

After a whole day and night of heavy rain, Dubai’s RTA assured on Friday that the main roads of the emirate are clear. The RTA shared this information and also thanked the various teams which worked overnight to clear rainwater and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Dubai: Parking fees not suspended

Heads up motorists: If you’ve parked your vehicle in a paid public parking area, please don’t forget to pay the corresponding tariff. Parking fees are not suspended in Dubai, and charges remain on Friday and Saturday, Khaleej Times has checked with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

On Thursday, Sharjah City Municipality announced waiving parking fees until the of Friday, December 19, due to unstable weather conditions. Free parking is in effect across the emirate, including all paid public areas and smart parking facilities at Hanging Gardens, Al Hefaiyah Lake, and Al Rafisah Dam.

Peaceful prayers

Mosques in Sharjah saw large turnouts. Many residents are working from home due to the rain and chose to offer Friday prayers at mosques near their residences.

Worshippers were seen arriving early, enjoying the cool breeze. With indoor spaces filling up quickly, some laid their prayer mats along footpaths outside mosques.

“We are working from home today, so it was easier to come and pray here,” said Shameer. “The weather is pleasant, there’s a cool breeze, and it feels peaceful praying close to home.”

Piercing through clouds

No matter how many times you see it, the Burj Khalifa never ceases to amaze. KT reader Athulya Krishnan shared a photo of the skyscraper shrouded in clouds.

Ferry services suspended

Ferry services between Dubai and Sharjah are temporarily suspended due to current weather conditions, RTA has announced.

Taxi fares double, triple amid rainy weather

Dubai residents faced a surge in taxi fares on Friday as inclement weather conditions continued in the UAE. A trip from JVC to AL Quoz showed a fare range of Dh139-Dh182 minimum on the Uber app, as early at 5:45am, for a ride that would typically cost Dh60-70 on regular days.

Fares for the same trip remained high in the afternoon as well, despite weather condition improving in the emirate.

Overnight rains caused waterlogging in some areas, affecting in commute. Dubai government had asked all public sector employees to work from home on Friday.

Global Village open today

Dubai’s popular theme park reopened on Friday after shutting doors due to the rain on Thursday.

Flights back to normal

Operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central — Al Maktoum International (DWC) have returned to normal following the adverse weather conditions experienced on Thursday and Friday (December 18-19), a Dubai Airports spokesperson confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday.

“Arrivals and departures are operating as planned with only a limited number of connecting flights still being cleared. Safety remained stable throughout the period,” the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson also assured impacted guests were supported through hotel accommodation, lounge access and ground transport. “The coordinated response across the oneDXB community ensured welfare remained a priority.”

DXB also advised passengers to check their flight status with their airline and plan their route to the airport in advance using real-time traffic updates.

Abu Dhabi intensifies traffic patrols

The Traffic Directorate and Security Patrols of Abu Dhabi Police have intensified traffic patrols and closely monitored the impacts resulting from the rainfall, working to improve the flow of traffic and transportation, address traffic congestion, and prevent accidents due to water accumulations across various streets and roads in the emirate.

Al Sarouj Park events postponed

Due to current weather conditions, Al Sarouj Park activities have been postponed until further notice, Al Ain Municipality announced. The new date will be announced through official channels.

Fewer emergency calls

As rain swept across parts of the UAE, recovery truck operators noted a marked difference in motorist behaviour compared to previous heavy downpours. Several recovery drivers told Khaleej Times that while they remain on standby, the volume of emergency calls has dropped sharply.

Roads closed in RAK

Some roads in Al Dhait South, Ras Al Khaimah, are temporarily closed as workers remove accumulated water to ensure the safety of road users.

Time-lapse of Sharjah skies

Blue skies peaked through heavy clouds in Sharjah as the weather ranged from dark and gloomy to sunny at times on Friday. KT Video: Shihab

Accident on Sheikh Khalifa Street towards Fujairah

A vehicle rolled over on Sheikh Khalifa Street heading towards Fujairah during the heavy rains on Thursday, a senior official at Fujairah Police told Khaleej Times on Friday.

“The driver sustained moderate injuries and he was transferred to Fujairah Hospital for treatment,” said Brigadier Saleh Mohamed Abdullah Al Dhanhani, director of the Traffic and Patrols Department at Fujairah Police.

Jebel Jais to remain closed

Ras Al Khaimah’s Jebel Jais will remain closed until further notice, according to a social media post by the destination.

Last night, several UAE residents drove to the mountain to enjoy the rain. Many of them got stuck there after the heavy downpour pour triggered a landslide.

Muhammad Ali who went with his friends, said that the roads were safe at 11pm when the group drove up the mountain. However, on their way back at 3am, they got stuck as a landslide blocked the road.

“Since it was still raining heavily, we couldn’t see exactly what was happening,” he told Khaleej Times.

“There were approximately 300 people including families and small children. We all switched off the cars and waited for the rain to subside. At about 8am, the rain stopped. That’s when we got out and saw that even a car had been caught in the landslide. Authorities worked relentlessly to remove it. The road was finally cleared at around 11.30pm.”

Dubai reopens all public parks, beaches

As weather conditions have now begun improving, Dubai Municiaplity has said that it will reopen all public beaches, parks, and open-air markets, “with activities returning to normal”.

The authority also urged residents to continue adhering to safety measures.

Abu Dhabi reopens all parks

The capital too, has reopened all ts public parks and beaches, as weather conditions continue to improve.

Wasit Wetland closed 

Wasit Wetland Centre, a wildlife park in Sharjah, will be closed tomorrow, December 20. Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority said that the park will be shut due to the weather conditions.

Social media praise for Dubai authorities

“Blink and you’ll miss the problem”, said one social media user, as Instagram has been flooded with content praising teams across Dubai that worked around the clock to ensure normalcy returns to the city.

Pictures and videos of RTA, Dubai Municipality teams have been working since unstable weather conditions began, clearing water and cleaning up roads to keep the emirate running.

Highest temperature today

As the rains subside and temperatures see a dip, the highest temperature recorded over the country today was 23.3ºC at 8.45am at Khor Fakkan Port.

Here’s a look at the map of the highest temperatures from the day:

Dubai, before and after

As the city returns to normalcy, many residents around Dubai would have seen several streets submerged in rainwater last night, only for them to be sparkling and clean today.

Dubai Municipality said that 2,280 field workers and supervisors and 392 engineers and leaders were present on ground assessing and rectifying the situation. It also mentioned that 55 members of the call centre staff were working to handle calls and reports.

These efforts have really shone as residents are appreciating the quick response from last evening. Here’s a glimpse of a road in DIFC, early on Friday morning, and later in the evening.

Cleanup continues

Authorities continued to clean parts of Al Safa street in front of City Walk. The road was closed to traffic earlier today

Water accumulation in some areas

While large parts of the city are being cleared up, some streets are still waterlogged.

KT reader Nisar has reported waterlogging behind the Eitsalat building in Abu Hail.

Clearer skies, shining skyline

As the rain washes down, the city’s skyline emerges beautifully — sparkling and standing tall despite the intense conditions last evening.

With the Sun peeking through the clouds earlier today, the buildings shone against the stark black roads.

How Sharjah handled the emergency

Sharjah Police General Command confirmed that coordinated efforts with strategic partners successfully contained the impacts of the recent weather depression, with no serious incidents recorded.

The force activated emergency response plans from the onset of the weather conditions, deploying security and traffic patrols across internal and external roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Operations rooms handled 8,145 calls through the 999 emergency line and 1,239 calls through the 901 non-emergency line, responding to inquiries and providing round-the-clock assistance.

Sharjah Police commended community members for their cooperation and adherence to safety instructions, which helped enhance public safety. The force affirmed it will continue its efforts throughout the rainy season to strengthen security and safety across the emirate.

Community support 

The community came together on several instances to help out one another as heavy rains poured on the city.

A video of residents helping traffic flow, before Dubai Police arrived, as visibility dropped and traffic lights began malfuntioning.

Take a look at their community spirit below:

Watch RTA in action, bringing the city back

Authorities work through the night

While much of Dubai slept to the sound of rain, emergency crews were on the streets, working through the night to drain flooded roads, regulate traffic and secure residential areas.

On the streets, police officers assisted vehicles affected by water accumulation, regulated traffic movement, managed minor incidents, and restricted access to high-risk locations.

The public alert system was activated to keep residents informed. As conditions escalated, routine patrol duties shifted to targeted safety deployment. Police teams were positioned across major roads, and rescue teams were deployed across the emirate to ensure rapid response where required.

Indian expat who died in RAK was newly married

A young Indian expat who died in Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday amid unstable weather was newly married and had just returned from his home country six months ago, after his wedding, according to a social worker who is helping with the repatriation process. 

According to him, the 27-year-old, named Salman Fariz, was out to deliver food when strong winds hit the emirate around 3am on Thursday morning.

Salman parked his vehicle outside a building under construction.  Authorities are yet to reveal how he died after taking refuge inside. The social worker said his body was discovered the next morning as workers went to the site. 

Ajman Municipality inspects drainage systems

Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director General of Ajman Municipality, conducted field inspections of rainwater drainage stations and projects to ensure system readiness and support smooth traffic flow.

Emergency teams under the ‘Ghaith Ajman’ initiative continue operating through four field teams, supported by an 81.65km drainage network and 28 pumping stations equipped with 72 pumps.

127mm rainfall recorded in Ras Al Khaimah

The National Center of Meteorology confirmed that the main wave of rainfall passed on Thursday night and Friday, with varying intensities across most areas of the country.

The highest amount recorded was 127mm in Al Ghazlah, Ras Al Khaimah, followed by Saqr Port (123mm), Jabal Al Rahbah (117.5mm), Jebel Jais (116.6mm), and Ras Al Khaimah city (72mm).

Khaleej Times will continue to bring you the latest

Overnight showers and thunderstorms hit the UAE early on Friday, but skies gradually cleared and life began returning to normal across the country.

The morning commute proved challenging for many, with waterlogged streets in Dubai, Sharjah, and other emirates causing traffic delays and leaving some motorists stranded. Several flights from Dubai were cancelled or delayed in the early hours.

Throughout the day, emergency response teams worked tirelessly clearing drainage systems, managing traffic, and ensuring public safety. Dubai’s main roads were declared clear by afternoon, and both Dubai and Abu Dhabi reopened their public parks and beaches. 

The National Centre of Meteorology confirmed that the main wave of rainfall had passed, with Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Ghazlah area recording the highest total at 127mm. The emirate also saw landslides and gushing wadis, prompting authorities to close several roads and Jebel Jais for safety. 

Stay tuned to Khaleej Times as we continue monitoring the weather conditions and bringing you the latest updates.

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