a severe storm in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has brought unprecedented challenges to its infrastructure and citizens. The Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest air hubs worldwide, is facing the brunt of this crisis. Travelers at the airport are reportedly facing severe difficulties, including dwindling food supplies.
The UAE, a region unfamiliar with heavy downpours, recently experienced a storm that brought about a year and a half’s worth of rainfall in a matter of hours. This unexpected weather phenomenon has disrupted life in the Gulf states, leading to casualties, property damage, and numerous businesses shutting down temporarily.
The storm’s impact on air travel has been particularly severe. Dubai International Airport, which houses Emirates – one of the largest airlines with multiple daily departures to Australia, has been hit hard. The airport’s management described the conditions as “very challenging”, with images surfacing online of its runways submerged underwater.
The storm’s aftermath saw approximately 290 flights to and from Dubai getting cancelled, and around 440 others were delayed. Emirates temporarily suspended check-in services, reopening only two days after. The airline urged passengers to head to the airport only if their flight’s departure was confirmed.
While some travelers managed to reach their destinations or return home, many others were stuck at the airport, waiting to board their flights. Emirates, which shares a longstanding partnership with Qantas and is a major provider of international airline seats to and from Australia, is in the spotlight as it navigates this crisis.
The disruptions at the airport have not only stranded passengers for days but also led to a scarcity of food. Restaurants and takeaway outlets, usually bustling with activity, have been struggling to replenish their stocks, receive supplies, or even staff their establishments.
Travelers have shared their harrowing experiences in the midst of this crisis. A couple returning from Sydney to the UK narrated their ordeal to the BBC, explaining they didn’t know when they’d eat a proper meal again or how to get home.
According to James Devine, a stranded passenger, restaurants at the airport were closed, and the only available food was from duty-free shops. Essential supplies for infants and young children, including food and diapers, were running out. Water, too, was in short supply.
A passenger named Pallavi, traveling with her family from Mumbai to New York via Dubai, shared her experience with UK newspaper The Mirror. She claimed the airport was running out of food options, and people were sleeping on the floor. All that was available was coffee, as everything else was out of stock.
Dubai Airport acknowledged the “operational challenges due to unprecedented weather”. The management stated they were working tirelessly to source refreshments while tackling supply issues caused by flooded roads. They also said food was being distributed in two terminals, and restaurants were open in a third terminal.
The UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology reported that 255mm of rain fell in 24 hours near Al Ain, on the Oman border. Considering the UAE’s annual rainfall averages between 140mm and 200mm, this amount far exceeds the typical yearly total. Oman reported receiving its worst rain in 75 years, leading to 19 deaths from the floods, and one person died in the UAE.
