Dubai flights cancelled and diverted due to storms and heavy rainfall

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Flights in and out of Dubai are being affected by antagonistic climate situations across the UAE, main to delays, diversions and cancellations throughout 16 April and 17 April.

Thunder, lightning, hail and heavy rainfall have hit Dubai, with colleges and authorities entities instructed to make money working from home. Citizens have been urged to keep inside the place attainable and solely depart their properties “in cases of extreme necessity”.

The web site for Dubai Aiport – one of many world’s busiest airports, which welcomed over 86 million passengers in 2023 – is presently displaying that there are at the least 20 cancelled flights on 16 April, with dozens extra delayed. Affected locations included cities round India and Pakistan, in addition to Saudi Arabia and Manchester.

In addition to Dubai, the encircling emirates of Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain have been all placed on alert. Adverse climate hit areas together with Abu Dhabi on Monday 15 April. There have been extra stories of flooded highways, whereas in neighbouring Oman, 18 individuals have been killed due to heavy rains in current days.

Photos confirmed a deluge of rainwater on roads round Dubai, with vehicles struggling to drive by means of flood highways.

Airlines together with Emirates are urging passengers to arrive on the airport up to 4 hours earlier than their scheduled flight time, whereas a tweet from Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority learn: “If you’re travelling from #DXB today, be sure to allow extra time to get to the airport and use the Dubai Metro, where possible. The metro operating hours have now been extended till 3AM tonight.”

Passengers on flights scheduled to depart Dubai are suggested to use the flydubai web site to monitor their flight standing.

A spokesperson for Dubai Airport instructed The Independent: “Dubai Airports can confirm that operations continue to be significantly disrupted at Dubai International (DXB) due to heavy rain and flooding on Tuesday, 16 April.  Due to the intense storm, operations were temporarily suspended for 25 minutes this afternoon, but have since recommenced, and are now in recovery mode.

“A total of 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights have been cancelled since 00:02hrs LT this morning, and 3 flights were diverted to other neighbouring airports.

“We urge guests to check directly with their airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight, allow significant extra travel time to the airport, and use Dubai Metro for smoother transit, which has extended operating hours until 03:00 hrs LT tonight.”

Advice from the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority contains recommending “preventive measures for heavy rain and hailstorms to minimise impacts on properties” and “parking vehicles in distant, safe and elevated locations”.