Residents and authorities in the United Arab Emirates started cleaning the streets after an unusually violent storm resulted in the destruction of homes and businesses and claimed at least one life. According to local media, a 70-year-old Emirati man died on Tuesday morning in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah in the north of the country when his car got swept away by flash floods. Oman, which is the neighbouring country, was also affected by the torrential downpours that resulted in the deaths of 19 people, including schoolchildren.

The United Arab Emirates has experienced unprecedented rainfall in recent days. The National Meteorological Centre reports that the heaviest downpours were witnessed in Al-Ajn, a city on the border with Oman. As much as 254mm of rain fell in a single day, the highest recorded since measurements began in 1949 before the UAE was formed in 1971.

Emergency services are working to clear flooded roads across the country, and the extent of the damage is yet to be fully assessed. At the same time, residents and local media are sharing photos of flooded roads and homes.

The Dubai government has instructed schools to conduct online classes to aid in flood relief efforts caused by heavy rains. Air traffic has also been severely affected, with Emirates and Flydubai airlines suspending check-ins for departing passengers and many flights being cancelled or delayed.

Experts are advocating for the expansion of rainwater drainage infrastructure in the UAE to prevent similar disasters in the future. In response, the government has announced relief programmes for those affected. The torrential rains serve as further evidence of the ongoing climate change the world is experiencing.

Rainfall is a rare occurrence in the UAE, where it typically only rains a few times each year. However, climatologists warn that global warming could result in more frequent and extreme weather events.