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UAE Stabilises Weather Conditions After Week of Storms and Flooding
UAE authorities confirmed the stabilisation of weather conditions across all regions on March 28, 2026 after a week of heavy rain, thunder and lightning triggered widespread flooding and major clean-up operations in several emirates. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority and the Ministry of Interior, after meeting with the National Centre of Meteorology, reported that the low-pressure system had dissipated, according to state news agency Wam. Municipal teams focused initial efforts on Sharjah, the worst-hit area, while addressing waterlogged roads in Abu Dhabi and congestion near Dubai Airport that delayed flights and disrupted traffic.
The National reported that heavy showers persisted into Friday evening in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Sharjah as the unstable weather began to ease. Municipal workers pumped water from key roads and residential communities, with operations expected to run through the weekend that forecasters predicted would remain dry. Sharjah saw the most severe flooding, mirroring the April 2024 deluge, where police assisted drivers trapped in deep water and ditches.
Flooding proved particularly visible in central Abu Dhabi although many residents continued commuting on foot to enjoy the cooler temperatures that accompanied the storms. Dubai experienced significant congestion on Umm Suqeim Street and routes leading to the international airport after overnight downpours left slip roads submerged. Airlines at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports issued advisories urging passengers to check schedules before travel as several flights faced delays amid the disruptions.
According to The National, the National Centre of Meteorology characterised the event as the final wave of a weather front that had affected the Emirates for most of the week, which proved less severe than feared with no high winds or tornadoes reported. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation directed companies to safeguard employees while the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Zakat advised worshippers to pray remotely during the peak of the unstable conditions. Abu Dhabi Police additionally restricted delivery riders from operating to prioritise their safety.
This March 2026 episode follows the UAE’s heaviest rainfall on record in April 2024 when some areas received more than 250 millimetres in 24 hours, an event that state news agency Wam labelled historic as it exceeded all measurements since data collection began in 1949. Authorities have since accelerated drainage upgrades including Dubai’s Dh30 billion Tasreef project scheduled for completion in 2033 to better manage future deluges. Scientists link the pattern of stronger and more frequent storms to climate-driven changes in atmospheric moisture.
A joint study by researchers at Khalifa University and the National Centre of Meteorology determined that the UAE now experiences up to two additional stormy days annually compared with the year 2000 with projections indicating three to four more such days by 2100. Dr Diana Francis, head of the Engeos Laboratory at Khalifa University and a co-author of the research, said, “With global warming, we know that the air is capable of holding more moisture and therefore fuelling severe convection and extreme rainfall.” National Centre of Meteorology figures for the recent event placed peak accumulations at 93.3 millimetres in Al Manama, Ajman on March 23, followed by 91 millimetres in Ghayathi, Al Dhafra.
Separate analysis has suggested that annual rainfall totals across the UAE could climb by as much as 30 percent by the end of the century under continued global warming scenarios. The National Centre of Meteorology recorded further notable amounts during the March spell including 88.2 millimetres in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi and 47.9 millimetres on Das Island the following day. Clean-up teams prioritised restoring full functionality to transport networks and urban infrastructure in the days immediately after the storms subsided.
