Dubai airport flooding: Does it rain a lot in UAE? Average rainfall and precipitation levels

It’s home to the famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper and has luxury shopping opportunities that are almost unmatched across the globe. But on Tuesday, Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, was hit with heavy rain and wind that caused flooding and disruption to roads, homes and at the busy international airport.

What happened to Dubai airport?

Dubai International Airport (DXB), which is a major connection hub for global travel, was diverting arriving flights on Tuesday evening while they waited the weather conditions to improve. The aim was for departures to continue to operate as usual, but operations were completely suspended for 25 minutes earlier in the day due of a storm.

What’s the average rainfall in Dubai?

Dubai boasts a desert climate with virtually no rainfall throughout the year, classified as BWh according to the Köppen-Geiger system. The average temperature hovers around 82.7 °F (28.2 °C), with only about 2.7 inches (68 mm) of precipitation annually. On Tuesday, more than 4.75 inches of rainfall had fallen, with more expected.

Situated in the northern hemisphere, Dubai experiences summer from September to June’s end, with the peak months being June, July, August, and September. With January being the wettest month, March, April, and November are generally accepted as the optimal times for visitors, mainly to avoid the hottest weather rather than being impacted by rain.

How did the rain affect life in Dubai?

With lightning bolts sparking in the sky amid the storms, emergency services were carefully getting around the affected areas. All schools, offices and government buildings were reported to be closed today and likely will be tomorrow. Through the article is a selection of social media posts from those in the city.