Severe thunderstorms swept through the northern Emirates of the United Arab Emirates overnight, leaving a trail of damage, particularly in Ras Al Khaimah. The unseasonably heavy rainfall, among the most intense seen in the region in decades, caused flooding and infrastructure challenges, prompting police alerts and ongoing cleanup efforts[3].While major transportation hubs have remained operational, residents are grappling with the aftermath of the storm and authorities are monitoring conditions for further shifts in the weather.
Ras Al Khaimah and other northern emirates in the United Arab Emirates experienced widespread damage overnight following a period of intense rainfall and strong winds. The severe weather, which lasted throughout the night, caused damage to homes and vehicles across the region, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure to increasingly volatile weather patterns in the Gulf.
The hardest-hit areas included Shamal, Khor Khwayr, and Al Sham in Ras Al Khaimah, where the storm’s impact was particularly severe. Residents reported water tanks being damaged and water surging into garages and balconies. Fallen trees and debris caused damage to numerous vehicles, according to reports.
Heavy rainfall also led to the formation of waterfalls in the Jebel Jais mountain range in Ras Al Khaimah. Despite the challenging conditions, authorities confirmed that operations at major airports, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), remained largely unaffected. A spokesperson stated that flight services at DXB have been running without disruption since Thursday morning.
Major airlines, including Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, and Air Arabia, have not reported any flight delays or cancellations as of Thursday. However, authorities are advising passengers to check with their respective airlines for updates before traveling to the airport.
Police in Ras Al Khaimah issued alerts to residents, warning them to avoid areas near streams and low-lying regions due to the risk of flooding. While Dubai’s skies remained overcast, no rainfall had been reported in the city as of Thursday.
Traffic flow on major roadways, including Sheikh Zayed Road, remained normal. Locals described the rainfall in northern districts as accompanied by hailstorms. Cleanup operations to remove fallen branches and debris are currently underway in Ras Al Khaimah. The National Center of Meteorology has urged continued monitoring of weather conditions in the coming hours.
Heavy rain and strong winds lashed the northern emirates of the UAE, especially Ras Al Khaimah, last night, causing widespread damage. Many homes and vehicles were damaged in the storm and rain that lasted all night. The rain caused heavy damage in areas such as Shamal, Khor Khwayr and Al Sham in Ras Al Khaimah.
