Dubai International Airport has announced that it is temporarily diverting all arriving flights as extreme weather continues to batter the UAE.
On Tuesday 16 April, heavy rainfall across the country caused major flooding, as well as damage and travel disruption.
Dubai International Airport (DXB)'s runways are submerged in water, and flooding has blocked the roads leading to the airport.
DXB, one of the world’s busiest airports, temporarily suspended operations on Tuesday 16 April for 25 minutes, leaving thousands of travellers facing delayed flights and cancellations.
“Due to the intense storm, operations at DXB were temporarily suspended for 25 minutes but have since recommenced,” the official account for Dubai airport said on X. “There is major flooding on roads leading to the airport and forecasts indicate that unsettled weather will continue till tomorrow morning.”
However, after another period of intense rain, it announced that it would be temporarily suspending all arriving flights. “We are temporarily diverting arriving flights this evening until the weather conditions improve,” the airport said in a post to X. “Departures will continue to operate. Together with our partners, we're working to restore normal operations and minimise inconvenience to you.”
Earlier in the day, it confirmed that 17 flights – nine outbound and eight inbound – had been cancelled, while three flights had been diverted to nearby airports.
Videos being circulated on social media show flyDubai planes landing into DXB runways submerged in water on Tuesday.
On Monday, the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority issued a safety alert warning people only to leave their homes in “extreme necessity” on Tuesday. As a result, schools across the country closed, and remote workers were told to stay home.
Since then, it has extended remote working and learning to Wednesday 17 April, as more extreme weather and heavy downpours are expected overnight.
Anyone travelling to Dubai airport is urged to use the Metro, which has extended its running hours until 3am on Wednesday morning. The airport is warning all passengers to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys.
Dubai Airport's live flight tracker currently shows that many flights on Tuesday night were delayed or cancelled, with the knock-on impact expected to be felt well into Wednesday.
This story will continue to be updated with new information. This article was first published on Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.