The employees let water out of the luxury stores as the rain flooded the Dubai Mall. The department store is among the world‘s most exclusive, with stores such as Chanel, Cartier and Gant.
Videos in social media shows how customers wade in rainwater that flows from the roof. One video shows how customers are transported in handcarts by the employees to avoid the ankle-high water.
THE NEXT DAY: The photo shows flooding along the roads in Dubai. Photo: REUTERS/Amr Alfiky Show more
The United Arab Emirates experienced heavy rain and storms on Tuesday, and especially the oil city – and the mecca of wealth – Dubai. The state-owned news media WAM refers to Tuesday’s rain as a “historic weather episode”, surpassing anything since weather data began to be documented in 1949.
Cloud seeding
Since the torrential storm hit like a bomb on Tuesday afternoon, several questions have been asked about how the massive rain hit the Emirates.
The Associated Press news agency writes that so-called cloud seeding may have been a contributing factor. Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification where the authorities in Dubai add chemicals to the clouds from airplanes precisely to increase the amount of precipitation.
CLOUD SEEDING: The picture shows a plane that adds particles to the clouds to increase the amount of precipitation in the Emirates in 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/NTB Show more
According to the news agency, six or seven such planes must have been flown before the rain. The state-affiliated newspaper The National claims, however, that cloud seeding was not carried out during the rain. They emphasize that many have come up with such theories on social media.
Avisa quotes an unnamed official in the country’s meteorological institute.
YESTERDAY: Dubai was hit by more than a year’s worth of rainfall in one day. Photo: NTB Show more
– Several say that we are responsible for the storm. We are not, says a meteorologist to the newspaper.
Cloud seeding is carried out precisely because of the dry and hot climate in the Emirates, where there is also a lack of groundwater.
Billionaire move in flood-hit Dubai
Historic
Another video shows how the water overflows at the Danish discount chain Flying Tiger.
“I have been stranded in and around the Dubai Mall for eight hours now. Poor guidance and instructions everywhere. Still stranded and have no idea how to get back to the hotel. But fear not, I have found shelter in the parking garage. It’s just weird to see such an innovative city lose control like this,” writes user Randy Hercules on Twitter / X.
Being stuck for 8hours now in and around Dubai Mall.
Poor guidance and instructions overall.
Still stuck and no idea how Im getting back to the hotel. Don’t worry, I got shelter in the parking lot.
Just weird to see such an innovative city losing control like this. pic.twitter.com/wpfAZ54Gev
— Randy Hercules (@RandyHercules) April 16, 2024
In an update, four hours later, he states that he has been released from the center and is back at the hotel.
TOOK IN WATER: Dubai Mall, here from a previous occasion. Illustration photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP / NTB Show more
Asking people to stay away
Dubai airport has also experienced major problems as a result of the weather. Videos show that the airport is completely underwater. A number of flights have been canceled as a result of the storm, and there was chaos among passengers who could not get anywhere.
– It’s a bloodbath. You can’t get a taxi. People sleep on the underground. There are people sleeping at the airport, a traveler told the news agency AP.
MANY WAITING: Passengers at Dubai airport on Wednesday, awaiting delayed flights. Photo: AFP / NTB Show more
The airport has posted several updates on Wednesday about the situation.
“We advise you NOT to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary. Flights are still delayed or cancelled. Please check the flight status directly with your airline. We are working hard to resume normal operations as quickly as possible, under very challenging conditions,” they write.
Emirates apologizes
Flights from Dubai to Oslo with the airline Emirates were delayed by a full 21 hours on Tuesday. The departure on Wednesday was also delayed by many hours.
Rammet: – It’s chaos
The departure from Oslo to Dubai on Tuesday was delayed by two and a half hours. Wednesday’s flight is expected to be delayed by five hours. On Twitter/X, the airline writes that passengers are advised not to go to the airport, and that check-in has been stopped for all flights. This applies from Wednesday 8am to midnight Thursday.
– We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes. Incoming passengers from Norway will be minimally affected. Emirates is working hard to resume normal operations, and our employees will do everything they can to take care of the affected customers, says Terje Grue, Norwegian CEO of Emirates, to Børsen.