Dubai is under water, even airplanes are floating. Is it safe to travel to the UAE now and what should tourists know

The day before, Dubai experienced a natural disaster – a year and a half's worth of rain fell on the city in a day, causing chaos at the largest airport and on the roads. By the end of Tuesday, April 16, more than 14 cm of rain fell. Airplanes and cars were floating, and tourists could not get to their flights.

This led to delays, cancellations, and rerouting of flights. The Daily Mail looked into how safe it is to travel to and through Dubai right now.

What we know about the downpour

In 24 hours, some parts of the United Arab Emirates experienced a transport collapse. Dubai received a year and a half's worth of rainfall, which residents were not prepared for. The international airport, which is one of the busiest in the world, addressed travelers with bad news.

Since the planes could not stay on the ground for long, a new flight was immediately sent after the arrival. This rhythm threw off the schedule and forced many tourists to stay in waiting rooms. Registration for new Emirates flights stopped by midnight. The airport accepted only transit flights.

Passengers had a hard time getting there because of the heavy rain and mudslides while employees pumped water out of the runway.

During the peak of the storm in the afternoon, the international airport stopped operating altogether but gradually began to resume operations in the evening. Travelers were asked to check their flight information and not to come to a crowded airport unnecessarily.

Paul Griffiths, the airport's chief executive, said the biggest problem at the hub is flooding and aircraft being behind schedule. "This is still an incredibly difficult time. In my memory, no one has ever seen conditions like this," he said.

After the floods, roads leading to the airport remain blocked and flooded. The subway system has also collapsed, as some stations, as well as surface roads, have been flooded.

On the morning of April 17, Dubai International reported that it was still experiencing significant disruption. Other carriers have not yet resumed flights.

Is it safe to travel to the UAE

Municipal services have mobilized to pump out water with tankers. On April 17, the weather in Dubai will still be variable, but forecasters predict sunny and warm days without precipitation.

It is not recommended to plan a flight to the UAE in the coming days until the airport returns to its normal schedule. It is reported that some flights scheduled for today have been canceled or postponed.

Information on the relevance of flights should be checked with the carrier, on websites, in applications, or with the travel company.

It is also worth mentioning that the strong winds that preceded the downpour caused some damage to shops and houses in the UAE.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!