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Family takes shelter in UAE hospital after heavy rains damage house overnight
Within minutes, the staff arranged a suite for the family, along with food, water and other essentials
- PUBLISHED: Wed 1 Apr 2026, 4:30 PM
Mohamed Fathy Gadalla, a resident of Al Ain, had been enjoying the rain throughout Friday. Like many residents, he welcomed the cooler weather, watched the clouds gather, and stepped out to feel the breeze. At his home in Al Maqam, it was a calm evening with his family, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary as they went to bed.
In the early hours of Saturday, around 2.30am, Mohamed woke to find that the rain had intensified and water had started entering parts of the house. What had been a normal rainy evening began to create some concern.
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“The rain was very heavy, and suddenly water started coming inside from different areas. Within minutes, one room was affected,” he said.
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Water began soaking into walls and furniture, and the situation escalated. At one point, part of the ceiling in his daughter’s room gave way.
“The roof in my daughter’s room fell,” he said.
His two-year-old daughter Celia’s room was no longer usable, prompting Mohamed to quickly move his family to safety. He gathered his wife Sohila Ibrahim, their daughter, and their nanny, and they left the house.
“We left as we were. There was no time to prepare anything. I just wanted to get my family somewhere safe,” he said.
With the rain still falling and visibility low, Mohamed drove through nearby streets looking for a place to wait until conditions improved. He decided to head to Burjeel Royal Asharej Hospital, located about 10 minutes away.
“Whenever we need medical care, this is where we come. At that moment, it felt like a safe place to go,” he said.
His plan was simple: to sit in the waiting area until the rain eased. However, shortly after arriving, hospital staff approached the family to check on them.
“I explained briefly that my home had been affected by the rain and that this was the nearest place we could go,” he said.
According to Mohamed, the response was immediate. Within minutes, the staff arranged a suite for the family, along with food, water and other essentials.
“I was expecting to sit in the reception for a few hours. I didn’t imagine they would offer us a suite,” he said. “Everything was prepared very quickly.”
The gesture brought a sense of relief after a difficult night, he added.
The family remained at the hospital until around 8.30am, after the rain had eased. Mohamed later returned home to assess the situation.
“There was water in several areas, and one room is still under maintenance due to the damage,” he said.
Having lived in the UAE since 2016, Mohamed said the experience reflected the support people can receive during challenging moments.
“What stood out was how quickly they responded and the trust they showed,” he said.
Before leaving, Mohamed made sure to thank the hospital staff personally. “What they did for us that night is something we truly appreciate."
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.