Dubai Rains: Airlines, Dubai Airport Issue Travel Advisory Amidst Rough Weather
Dubai has been witnessing heavy rain and thunderstorm causing travel disruptions again
Dubai Airport and the airlines operating from Dubai airport have been issuing travel advisories due to ongoing thunderstorms and heavy rain across UAE.
The country braces for another spell of rough weather that is expected to persist until May 03. Since the midnight of May 02, Dubai has been experiencing showers and lightening, reported National Center for Meteorology (NCM).
Indian airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara too have issued advisories for flights to and from Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi due to the expected bad weather, as reported by CNBCTV18. IndiGo posted on X, “Due to adverse weather conditions in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, our flight operations are impacted. Please keep a track of your flight status before leaving for the airport.” Vistara advised, “Due to the anticipated bad weather conditions from May 2 to 5, traffic congestion is expected enroute to Dubai Airport. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport. Thank you.” SpiceJet urged passengers to check their flight status, warning of possible disruptions due to thunderstorms and rain in Dubai.
#WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather (thunderstorms with rain) in Dubai (DXB), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://t.co/VkU7yLjZly.
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) May 2, 2024
#TravelUpdate: Due to the anticipated bad weather conditions from May 2nd to May 5th, traffic congestion is expected enroute to Dubai Airport. Customers are advised to allow more time for their journey to the airport. Thank you.
— Vistara (@airvistara) May 1, 2024
#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to adverse weather conditions in #Dubai #Sharjah & #AbuDhabi , our flight operations are impacted. Please keep a track of your flight status at https://t.co/TQCzzyjLr2 before leaving for the airport.
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) May 2, 2024
In the backdrop of the unprecedented downpour that rocked the city last month, the rains in this spell are predicted to be less severe in comparison, however still the authorities are urging public to take necessary precautions.
Heaviest Rains in Dubai Since 1949
Last month on April 14-15, extreme rainfall drowned regions of the Arabian Peninsula, with Dubai experiencing the heaviest rains on record since 1949. Emirates airline canceled several flights on Thursday due to bad weather across the UAE as movements at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were reduced.
Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on 2 May can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled, Emirates said in a statement.
Remote Classes and Work
The Ministry of Interior, UAE asked all educational institutions to engage students through remote classes on Thursday and Friday. Heavy winds with rain were witnesses across all cities in the country. Employees of all government and private sector offices were asked to work remotely with the exception of critical services, rescue and recovery teams and those involved with providing healthcare. The Ministry of Interior also decided to close all roads leading to areas prone to flash floods, water accumulations, and dams during the weather conditions.
They advised people to not venture near these areas and follow safety standards and guidelines, avoid mountainous, desert, and coastal areas, said a statement. In addition to moderate to heavy rain in scattered areas, accompanied by occasional lightning and thunder, a possibility of small hail, concentrated in the western regions, on the coasts, and in some eastern areas have also been warned. Some flights were disrupted on Wednesday and some events were postponed due to the inclement weather conditions.
Local Transportation
Dubai Metro announced the extension of operating hours ahead of expected weather conditions, extending from 12 am to 5 am (the next day). These trains, however were operating with reduced number of stops. “If you’re travelling to Dubai International Airport, you may experience road delays. We recommend adding extra travel time to reach the airport and using Dubai Metro where possible,” the Emirates airline’s spokesperson was quoted by the local media as saying on Wednesday.
