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Friday, Mar 20, 2026

Four Dead, Dubai Airport Disrupted: UAE's Heaviest Rains in 75 Years Cause Flooding and Flight Chaos

Heavy rains caused by a storm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman resulted in at least 24 deaths and disrupted Dubai's international airport.
The storm, which set a record for the heaviest rainfall in the UAE in the past 75 years, caused flooding that claimed the lives of two Philippine women, one man, and an Emirati man in his 70s.

The flooding also caused significant damage and continued to disrupt airport operations in Dubai.

The storm initially hit Oman over the weekend, resulting in at least 20 deaths.

Extreme weather events, including heavy rains in the UAE and Oman, are becoming more frequent due to human-caused global warming.

The storm caused significant disruptions at Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest hubs for travel in the Middle East.

The airport struggled to clear a backlog of flights and suspended check-ins for transiting passengers for two days.

As a result, approximately 30% of all flights to and from Dubai, or 1,478 flights, were cancelled since Tuesday.

Flagship carrier Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, was also affected.

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, Etihad reported normal flight operations.

However, the main road linking Dubai and Abu Dhabi was partially closed, with an alternative route seeing vehicles driving through flooded areas past abandoned cars and buses.

In the northern emirates, including Sharjah, local media reported people were still trapped in homes and extensive damage was caused to businesses.
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