Following a storm that flooded taxiways and caused disruptions at Dubai Airport, operations had not yet returned to normal. Flights were diverted, delayed, or canceled as a result of the storm.
Majid Al Joker, the Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, stated in an interview with Al Arabiya TV that the airport was expected to reach 60-70% capacity by the end of Thursday and fully operational within the next 24 hours. He was optimistic about the airport’s recovery.
The flooding also affected nearby roads, leading to overcrowding at the airport and difficulty for stranded passengers to access food and services.
The storm, which originally hit Oman on Sunday resulting in 20 deaths, reached the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday with one reported fatality.
Despite the challenges faced, delivery services in Dubai gradually resumed as the city’s residents, accustomed to convenience, began ordering goods online again.
Rain is a rare occurrence in the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, known for their dry desert climates where summer temperatures can soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
The storm also raised questions about the UAE’s cloud seeding practices possibly contributing to the heavy rainfall, although climate experts attribute such extreme weather events to global warming.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
