Emirates and flydubai Resume Normal Operations After UAE Flooding

The recent heavy rains and severe flooding in the United Arab Emirates have caused chaos for travelers and businesses alike, with Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates and sister airline flydubai being among those heavily impacted. Emirates had to cancel nearly 400 flights and delay many more due to the record storm that hit the desert city earlier this week.

The storm not only disrupted flight operations but also led to the suspension of check-in services for departing passengers and transit operations at Dubai International Airport, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. The airport struggled to return to normalcy as flooded taxiways forced flight diversions, delays, and cancellations.

However, there is good news as both Emirates and flydubai have now restored normal operations. Flydubai resumed its full flight schedule from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 on Saturday, while Emirates provided 12,000 hotel rooms and 250,000 meal vouchers to affected customers. Despite these efforts, it will take days to clear the backlog of rebooked passengers.

The impact of the flooding is still being felt in the UAE, with roads between Dubai and Abu Dhabi partially underwater. This has led to product shortages in Abu Dhabi, as supermarkets and restaurants are unable to receive deliveries from Dubai.

Researchers have linked extreme weather events like this storm to climate change, warning that global warming could lead to more frequent and severe flooding in the Gulf region. The lack of adequate drainage infrastructure in countries like the UAE puts them at particular risk during heavy rains.

As the UAE continues to recover from the recent flooding, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of climate resilience and preparedness in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.