Dubai - Al Maktoum family's youth were out with the residents.
By Yousuf Saifuddin Kapadia
Follow us on
Published: Tue 7 Feb 2017, 12:04 PM
Last updated: Wed 8 Feb 2017, 12:43 AM
As snow, rain and a dusty winds lashed the UAE over the last weekend, excited residents headed out for long drives and picnics - and many adventurous souls made their way to the Ras Al Khaimah mountains where temperatures dropped to under 0 degree! Uprooted trees, snailing traffic and accidents in some parts of the country could not dampen people's spirits as the country had to wait a long time for rain this winter. With sub-zero temperatures in RAK, residents rushed to the famous Jebel Jais mountain - on the UAE-Oman border - to enjoy the snowfall. Also read: UAE to get more rainfall than before Even Dubai's royal family joined residents with their own excursions around the city.
Here are a few shots posted by some members of the family on Instagram
Probably the most popular member of the royal family - in his generation - young Sheikh Hamdan, Dubai Crown Prince, went on a drive around the city with his entourage, photographing the rain soaked cosmopolitan.
He even visited a park where tree had been uprooted due to the stormy weather.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler's young daughter, Sheikha Shamma, spent time with her family at the beach. Shamma recently made headlines after she visited a construction site to distribute food and essentials among Dubai's workers - as part of the country's noble 'Year of Giving' campaign. Newlywed Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, headed to the mountains to enjoy the cool weather.
Sheikh Mohammed posted this inspired tribute poem to the rain
Then there was this breathtaking shot of the Dubai skyline - covered in thunderstorm clouds - by Sheikh Hamdan. Another daughter - equestrian and judo champion - Sheikha Maitha shared these viral videos of the snowfall at Jebel Jais and high waves flooding the roads of Dubai:
#Repost #myUAE A video posted by Maitha MR Al Maktoum (@mmrm1) on
Dubai #myUAE A video posted by Maitha MR Al Maktoum (@mmrm1) on
Sheikha Maryam went for a drive
All about UAE's snowy, rainy weekend
However, the weather change did not affect flight services much as no regional and international flight delays were reported. An Etihad Airways spokesperson told Khaleej Times: "We're operating normally at this time and no delays to report." An Emirates spokesperson also said that there were "no significant weather-related delays." One person was injured and three cars were burnt after a crane fell on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road, causing a long traffic block. However, personnel from the Dubai Civil Defence and the Dubai Police managed to bring the situation back to normal immediately. Fire and traffic accidents were reported from various parts of the country after the strong wind. Poor visibility caused many accidents and most of the residents had to sit inside their houses to avoid the dust and cold. The winds uprooted trees and signages in almost all the emirates. The Global Village was closed for the day and fourth stage of the Dubai Tour was cancelled because of the weather conditions. In Abu Dhabi, the weather dropped to a chilly 13 degrees Celsius by 6pm, with heavy dust storms sweeping the motorways. yousufk@khaleejtimes.com
The brothers, who say they are innocent, are accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania, as well as in the US and Britain
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
