UAE restores normalcy within hours after heavy rains; here is how it happened

A coordinated, round the clock response by UAE authorities ensured services continued smoothly and flooded areas were cleared within hours, as shown in visuals shared by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) following the recent spell of heavy rain and strong winds. 

The video highlighted how different entities worked together, with officials monitoring the situation from control rooms while teams were deployed across affected areas. Police personnel were seen managing traffic in challenging conditions, while emergency crews and water tankers worked to remove water from roads and low lying areas.

The footage also showed rescue efforts, with teams assisting residents in flooded neighbourhoods and helping stranded motorists. A few shots showed the emergency responders were seen guiding people to safety and clearing blocked routes.

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On the ground, residents across several emirates said the situation improved quickly, with many areas returning to normal within hours.

In Dubai, images shared by the Dubai Media Office showed roads cleared soon after the rain, with no major waterlogging visible in several parts of the city. Dubai Municipality also posted videos of teams working across locations to drain water and restore normal traffic movement.

Residents said the impact was noticeable in many areas. “When I was leaving to my work in the morning, it was cloudy and I could feel that it will rain heavily. By the time it was 4 pm, my colleagues called me saying that they are struck in rain. I delayed my log out timings on Thursday and left around 7 pm, they roads had been cleared by then,” Altaf Hussain, a resident of Al Shera building in JLT. “By night, it felt normal again. The response was very quick.”

In Sharjah, authorities maintained a constant presence on the ground, particularly in areas prone to water accumulation.

Sharjah Police continued to post updates on X, highlighting ongoing efforts to deal with submerged areas and guiding residents on road conditions. Residents said that tanker trucks and municipal teams were active even late into the night.

“We wanted to buy some essentials, but couldn’t go out because of the rain. We decided go shopping early morning Saturday at around 2am, we could still see tankers removing water near Night to Night in Sharjah,” said Hana Monsour, an Egyptian expat residing in Al Nahda, Sharjah. “They didn’t stop. And now the roads are much better.”

In Ajman too, residents reported a quick clean-up, with water being drained from low-lying neighbourhoods within a short time.

Ajman Police on their official social media channels said that teams were on standby and responding to weather-related incidents, while also assisting residents and facilitating services during the rain.

“Water did enter some areas, but it didn’t stay for long,” said Hameed Khan, a businessman and a resident of Al Nuaimiya. “We were expecting it to take more time, but it was cleared quickly.”

“You can still see tankers, workers and vehicles everywhere. That gives confidence that things are under control,” said Khan.

Residents also pointed out that the response appeared faster and more organised compared to previous heavy rain events.

“In April 2024, water stayed for a long time in many places. This time, it was handled much better. Within hours, things were moving again,” said Mansour.