Record Rainfall and Flash Floods Disrupt Life in UAE as Damac Chairman Downplays Severity

On April 16, 2023, the United Arab Emirates experienced record-breaking rainfall, with flash floods causing widespread damage and disrupting daily life. The UAE's National Center of Meteorology reported that eastern parts of the country measured up to 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain in less than 24 hours, far exceeding the typical annual rainfall of 5.5 to 8 inches.

The heavy rainfall led to water engulfing cars, closing schools and businesses, grounding hundreds of flights, and destroying property. Dubai's main airport was forced to suspend check-in for all passengers, and private schools across the UAE were closed. The lack of drainage infrastructure and the country's paved urban spaces exacerbated the flooding in many areas.

Despite the severe weather conditions, Hussain Sajwani, the chairman of Damac Properties, one of the UAE's largest private real estate developers, sought to downplay the severity of the flooding. Sajwani stated that there were only "pockets of problems" that were quickly resolved. He claimed that his company's properties were largely unaffected and that they had an action plan in place to address the situation.

Why this matters: The record-breaking rainfall and resulting flash floods in the UAE highlight the country's vulnerability to extreme weather events and the need for improved infrastructure to mitigate their impact. The contrasting perspectives on the severity of the flooding from officials like Hussain Sajwani raise questions about the transparency and accuracy of information provided to the public during such crises.

However, the cleanup efforts are still ongoing, with one multistory apartment building near the border of Dubai and Sharjah being fully evacuated due to structural damage from the storm. Some Dubai developers have reportedly offered free repairs and vowed to take action after the record rainfall. Authorities in Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Al Ain issued alerts and urged citizens to stay indoors during the severe weather conditions.

Experts suggest that global warming may have played a role in the intensity of the storms, as a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and fuel more severe weather events. Scientists have attributed the excess rainfall to climate change, with the heat pumped into the atmosphere by humans making the record rainfall 10-40% heavier. The researchers concluded that cloud seeding, a weather modification technique used in the UAE, did not have a significant influence on the flooding, and that massive rainfall would have occurred regardless of whether cloud seeding had been carried out.

Key Takeaways

• UAE experienced record-breaking rainfall, causing widespread damage and disruption.
• Flooding exacerbated by lack of drainage infrastructure and paved urban spaces.
• Developers downplayed severity, while cleanup efforts and evacuations continued.
• Experts link intensity to climate change, with cloud seeding having minimal impact.
• Highlights UAE's vulnerability to extreme weather and need for improved infrastructure.