Extreme Weather Causes Chaos at Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport, a pivotal hub in global aviation, faced severe disruptions due to unexpected and unprecedented heavy rainfall, resulting in the temporary suspension of flights and widespread cancellations. Over the last 24 hours, the airport, known for its robust traffic handling capacity, had to cancel at least 45 flights, including 21 departures and 24 arrivals, predominantly affecting routes across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent.

The flooding at DXB, caused by a record 4.7 inches (119 mm) of rain—equivalent to one and a half years of the city's normal rainfall—led to a brief pause in arriving flights, although departing flights resumed normal operations shortly after. The rare weather event overwhelmed the city's infrastructure, leading to waterlogged roads and necessitating an extension of Dubai Metro's operating hours until 3 AM to accommodate disrupted passengers.

As social media videos illustrated the extent of the flooding, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority issued advisories urging travelers to allocate extra time for airport commutes and to utilize the metro where possible. While Dubai bore the brunt of the weather's impact, nearby Abu Dhabi also experienced flash flooding, though its airport operations were less affected.

This weather anomaly not only disrupts immediate travel plans but is likely to have residual effects on the airport's operations over the coming days. Dubai International Airport, serving as the primary base for Emirates and flydubai, is the second busiest in the world, handling over 86 million passengers annually. Such a significant interruption is poised to affect thousands of passengers and ripple through flight schedules globally.