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Look: When heavy rains in UAE brought life to a halt 9 years ago
The intensity of the rainstorm reached strengths of up to 130kmph in some areas — enough to uproot trees, break windows, and rip billboards from buildings
- PUBLISHED: Sun 9 Mar 2025, 5:30 AM
It was a wet Wednesday, and life across many parts of the UAE was disrupted when heavy rains hit the country nine years ago today, on March 9, 2016.
As reported by Khaleej Times, the intensity of the rainstorm reached strengths of up to 130kmph in some areas — enough to uproot trees, break windows, and rip billboards from buildings.
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Several road accidents were reported; wadis were flooded; schools were shut, and a few offices in heavily affected areas decided to close early.
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In Dubai, police recorded at least 253 traffic accidents in a span of seven rainy hours between 6am and 1pm. About 3,200 emergency calls were also made. Major roads remained open but there was slowdown of traffic. “We had been told to expect (a rainfall of) more than 50-60mm an hour. But it was more than what was predicted,” an official told Khaleej Times.
Employees returned home
Abu Dhabi’s business activities came to a halt as unstable weather condition rendered the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, some oil companies, banks and financial institutions to close early that day.
By noon, all public sector and some private companies in the Capital asked their employees to return home as bad weather persisted. Office buildings, including the Sheikh Khalifa Complex that houses Adnoc, were evacuated.
Damages were reported in different locations across Abu Dhabi, including at Gems American Academy in Khalifa City, where some windows were left shattered.
The Abu Dhabi International Airport was temporarily closed because of the inclement weather, and some damages were reported at Al Bateen Executive Airport. Dubai International Airport, for its part, had flight delays.
RAK rocked by heavy showers
Heavy flooding was reported in other emirates, particularly in Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Manei, Shawkah, Al Ghalila, Jais Mountain and Al Gheil areas. Twenty-one vehicles were towed by RAK police after being stuck in flooded valleys and 54 minor accidents were also reported.
“No casualties were reported though,” said Eng Ahmed Al Hammadi, director general of the RAK Department of Public Works and Services.
Fujairah wadis flooded
Wadis in Fujairah were flooded after the heavy rains hit the eastern coast of the country.
The emirate experienced moderate to heavy rains for almost nine hours which resulted in the flooding of dams, including Shawka and Al Hail; Wadi Mai and Wadi Sahm; Safad Al Tuween; Wadi Al Abadela; Al Halah; Thwban; Al Seijji; Mer-bah and Gadfa.
Police closed some roads and warned the public to stay away from flooded areas. The Fujairah Education Zone confirmed that no school was affected by the heavy rain but students were sent home early.
Sharjah, Ajman hit by heavy rains
Non-stop rain caused massive traffic congestions in Sharjah’s main roads but the police reported only minor accidents.
Authorities in Sharjah increased patrols to organise traffic movement and minimise congestion. Police officials in Ajman also deployed more than 33 patrols in areas that were affected by water clogging.
Acts of kindness
Heavy rains brought life to a brief pause but did not drench the spirit and resilience of UAE residents.
The rainstorm was quite severe, noted at that time by Indian expat Rahul Sudheer. “But amidst the chaos, I saw residents helping each other,” he added.
“While returning home from work, I noticed that some drivers parked their cars on the hard shoulder of the highway…. They were getting out to remove debris like branches of trees and small logs so that traffic would not be obstructed. This act of kindness by some residents made the roads safer for others,” he underscored.
Thanweeruddin Mohammad oversees KT research and photo desk. Aside from his daily activities in the newsroom, he is also a fitness enthusiast who loves playing cricket and other outdoor games.