(WNAM Monitoring): Operations at Dubai airport remain severely disrupted as heavy rains continue to batter the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries.
The storm pounded the UAE on Tuesday, flooding roads and the sections of the busy international airport.
Flash floods have now killed 20 people in Oman and one in the UAE.
Some inbound flights have resumed on Thursday, but on the whole Dubai international airport, a major travel hub, is barely functional.
Authorities at the world’s second-busiest airport said on Thursday that they had started receiving inbound flights at Terminal 1, used by foreign carriers, but that outbound flights continue to be delayed.
They later announced that check-in was open at Terminal 3 for Emirates – the single largest carrier at the airport, and flydubai flights.
But they warned that a large number of travellers were waiting to check in and long delays were expected.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, early on Thursday, officials urged people toproceed to the airport only if they had confirmed bookings.
The head of Dubai airport, Paul Griffiths, said: “It remains an incredibly challenging time. In living memory, I don’t think anyone has ever seen conditions like it.”
The surrounding roads remain gridlocked because of overcrowding with people trying to reach the airport.
On Wednesday, about 300 flights were cancelled and hundreds more were delayed.
The UAE recorded its heaviest rainfall in recorded history.Up to 259.5mm (10.2in) of rain fell on the usually arid country on Tuesday.
The state-run news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949”.
