Challenges Faced by Dubai Airport in Resuming Operations Post Heavy Rainfall

Dubai International Airport, known as one of the busiest in the world, was still dealing with chaos on Thursday due to heavy rain causing flooded runways.

Although check-ins for Emirates and Flydubai, the airport's main operators, had resumed, Terminal 3 was seeing a large number of travelers as airlines worked to manage the backlog caused by cancellations and delays.

There are many guests in the Terminal 3 check-in area right now, according to a statement on the website. It is recommended that passengers only go to Terminal 3 if they have confirmed their flight departure with their airline.

Videos from the agency reveal that there are large crowds of passengers at the airport, which has been recognized as the second busiest in the world.

Delays and cancelations caused by the flooding have led to ongoing congestion at Dubai International Airport.

Delays and cancelations caused by the flooding have led to ongoing congestion at Dubai International Airport.

On Tuesday, storms passed through the United Arab Emirates and neighboring countries. In less than 24 hours, some areas received a whopping 250 millimeters (about 10 inches) of rain, marking the heaviest rainfall in 75 years for the region.

The runway of Dubai International Airport was flooded, causing large jets to splash through the water and create sprays behind them. Inside the airport terminals, hundreds of passengers had to endure flight cancellations and delays, leaving them stranded and frustrated. Many passengers were in desperate need of assistance.

The UAE experienced its worst deluge in 75 years.

The UAE experienced its worst deluge in 75 years.

On Thursday, there were 388 flights delayed and 30 canceled at the airport, as reported by airplane tracker site FlightAware. Among these delays, 246 were Emirates flights, which accounted for over 50% of the UAE flag carrier's services, while 86 were FlyDubai flights. The day before, hundreds more flights had been canceled.

Emirates apologized to passengers who were affected by the delays and disruptions. Many passengers have expressed their frustration on social media about not being able to reach the airline.

"We sincerely apologize to our customers who have been impacted by delays and travel disruptions due to bad weather and road conditions," Emirates stated on X. "We understand how challenging this situation has been for everyone involved."

While some customers have managed to make it back home or to their final destination, we understand that there are still many who are patiently waiting for their flights. Our dedicated teams are putting in their best efforts to get our scheduled flights back on track and are also arranging accommodations and other necessary facilities for those affected customers at the airport.

An abandoned ambulance submerged in flood water on a highway after a rainstorm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. The United Arab Emirates experienced its heaviest downpour since records began in 1949, Dubai's media office said in a statement. Photographer: Christopher Pike/Bloomberg via Getty Images

An abandoned ambulance was found submerged in flood water on a highway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following a rainstorm on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. According to Dubai's media office, this rainstorm marked the heaviest downpour ever recorded in the United Arab Emirates since 1949.

The striking image was captured by photographer Christopher Pike and published by Bloomberg/Getty Images.

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The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority and will never be compromised.

One user, Mister Funk, shared their difficulty in reaching out to the airline after their flight to Dubai was canceled, leaving them stranded in Amsterdam.

"We tried contacting you through various phone numbers from different countries, but we haven't received any response. The live chat option is also not working. We are currently stranded in Amsterdam and urgently require assistance."

Last year, around 134 million passengers passed through the UAE's airports, with 87 million of them flying through Dubai International Airport. The UAE has a population of approximately 10 million people and serves as a major hub for five airlines.

‘Grueling’ journey

Flood roads left motorists stranded in Dubai.

Flood roads left motorists stranded in Dubai.

Christopher Pike/AP

Access roads to the airport were affected by heavy rain, causing traffic to come to a standstill. Some motorists in Dubai had to leave their vehicles behind as floodwaters rose, turning roads into rivers.

These storms are a result of increased extreme rainfall events linked to the warming of the planet's atmosphere due to human-induced climate change. As the atmosphere heats up, it can hold more moisture, leading to heavy rainfall and flooding.

The weather conditions were caused by a big storm system moving through the Arabian Peninsula and crossing the Gulf of Oman. This system has also brought unusually rainy weather to Oman and southeastern Iran.

Cars are stuck on a flooded road after a rainstorm hit Dubai, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana

Cars are stuck on a flooded road after a rainstorm hit Dubai, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana

Rula Rouhana/Reuters

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Chaos in Dubai as UAE records heaviest rainfall in 75 years

In Dubai, heavy rain caused delivery services to stop and prevented many residents from going out because the streets were flooded. Cars and pedestrians couldn't move around. Some people were using canoes outside their homes, and there was even a viral video of residents wakeboarding on a flooded street in a residential area.

Many residents remain holed up at home.

Many residents remain holed up at home.

Amr Alfiky/Reuters

Videos on social media captured water flowing through a large shopping mall and flooding the ground floor of houses.

Madiha Khawaja, a tourist from London, was visiting with her husband and two young children, ages two and four. She described feeling "helpless" as she tried to comfort her children during the chaotic situation.

The rain caused problems with building lifts in Dubai, even in the tallest skyscrapers. Khawaja had to climb 27 floors to her apartment with her young children, which was a tough journey. When they finally arrived, they found no water, phone service, or Wi-Fi.

“The kids were hungry, and I as a mother was getting very anxious and upset,” she told CNN.

Clean-up operations

On Thursday, the streets of Dubai were still flooded with water, making it difficult for residents to navigate through blocked roads in some neighborhoods. Residents stayed indoors, avoiding the inconvenience caused by the waterlogged streets.

Authorities have been pumping water off highways.

Authorities have been pumping water off highways.

Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Municipal authorities in Dubai are currently using trucks to pump water off the roads and clear debris blocking the streets. The Dubai municipality is also encouraging residents to send Whatsapp messages to help remove the accumulated rainwater.

As a result of the clean-up efforts, Sheikh Zayed Road, a major highway connecting the entire city, has become difficult to access. This has led to traffic congestion throughout Dubai, with some metro stations remaining non-operational.

In the nearby emirate of Sharjah, 65 community service patrols were sent out to help areas impacted by the rain. Clean-up efforts are ongoing in the affected areas. The damage caused by the storm is still evident in various neighborhoods of Abu Dhabi.

The government has announced that schools will remain closed and federal workers will be working from home until Friday.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has directed authorities to promptly assess the country's infrastructure and offer immediate assistance to affected families. He has also instructed for the relocation of impacted families to secure locations in collaboration with local officials.

Reporting for CNN was contributed by Mary Gilbert, Brandon Miller, Abbas Al Lawati, Teele Rebane, Kathleen Magramo, Mostafa Salem, Sophie Tanno, and Eleni Giokos.

Editor's P/S:

The recent chaos at Dubai International Airport, caused by heavy rainfall and flooding, highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events. The airport, one of the world's busiest, experienced flight delays and cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The images of flooded runways and frustrated travelers underscore the urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on transportation systems.

The article also sheds light on the human toll of such events. Passengers faced long delays, cancellations, and difficulty reaching airline representatives, adding to their stress and frustration. The flooding also affected access roads to the airport, leaving some motorists stranded. These disruptions not only inconvenience travelers but also have economic consequences for airlines and the tourism industry. It is crucial that airport authorities and policymakers prioritize infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness to minimize the impact of future extreme weather events.