Dubai floods: Flight disruption continues; remote working extended till tomorrow
What's the story
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently managing the fallout from its heaviest rainfall since 1949—that led to widespread disruption in Dubai.
The state-run WAM news agency has labeled the rains as "a historic weather event."
The downpour, partly attributed to cloud seeding efforts, resulted in power outages and significant interruptions at Dubai International Airport.
Residents faced severe disruptions as water flooded homes and underground parking lots, leading to power failures in some buildings.
Flight delays
Dubai International Airport operates amidst weather disruptions
Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest airports worldwide, is currently operating with limited flights due to the heavy rainfall.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), airport authorities advised passengers to arrive at Terminal 1 only if they have a confirmed booking amid ongoing flight delays and disruptions.
The unprecedented weather conditions have significantly impacted the airport's operations, causing widespread inconvenience for travelers.
Extended closures
UAE schools and government offices extend remote operations
Separately, government schools across the UAE will also remain closed until April 19 due to flooding.
The Emirates School Education Foundation announced that distance learning would be extended for all government schools on Thursday and Friday.
Additionally, the UAE government has extended remote working for its employees until Friday following directives from the Council of Ministers due to adverse weather conditions.
Exceptions have been made for jobs requiring physical presence at the workplace.
Weather modification
Cloud seeding contributed to unprecedented rainfall in UAE
The desert nation experienced heavy rainfall potentially due to cloud seeding operations initiated in 2002 to address water security concerns.
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique where substances like silver iodide or dry ice are dispersed into clouds to stimulate precipitation.
The UAE has been using this technique since the late 1990s, with research partnerships with institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and NASA supporting their efforts.