Heavy rain in UAE: Bus services from Dubai to Sharjah, Ajman temporarily suspended

Look: Post-rain scenes from Sharjah

KT photographer Shihab captured residents and commugters on the road after heavy showers in Sharjah on Thursday.

Watch: Abu Dhabi Police manage traffic amid heavy rain

Abu Dhabi Police shared a video of them continues field efforts to enhance traffic safety during weather fluctuations.

Watch: Severe water logging in Sharjah

Sharjah commuters had to navigate traffic amid heavily water-logged roads after heavy showers hit UAE on Thursday.

KT Video by Shihab

Safety advisory in Bahrain

Bahrain's General Command of the Coast Guard has urged sea-goers to exercise utmost caution and vigilance, given that the Kingdom is sometimes exposed to winds of high speed, in order to preserve their safety.

Advisory for food truck owners

Abu Dhabi Municipality has issued guidelines for food truck owners during weather fluctuations.

Bus services from Dubai to Sharjah, Ajman temporarily suspended

Dubai's Road and Transport Authority has informed that bus services to Sharjah and Ajman will be temporarily suspended from 7pm on Thursday, March 26 due to weather conditions and water accumulation on roads.

"Our teams are currently working in coordination with the relevant authorities to resume services as soon as possible. Please follow our social media channels for further updates regarding service resumption. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation," the RTA said.

Dark clouds above Burj Khalifa

Dubai Media office shared images of the emirate after heavy rain on March 27.

Take a look:

Heavy rain expected on March 27

UAE's National Center of Meteorology has predicted that the weather on March 27 will be partly cloudy to cloudy with some cumulus clouds, with heavy rain falling over most areas of the country at intervals, and a drop in temperatures.

How to stay safe during strong winds, heavy rain, hail

UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority has issued guidelines on how to stay safe during heavy rain, strong winds and hail.

"Together, we face severe weather conditions with awareness and commitment by following official guidance and working together to protect lives and property," they said on X.

More road closures in Sharjah

Sharjah Police announced a temporary closure of Al Ezwah Street (Suhaila) in Al Dhaid city. The closure affects traffic coming from Ras Al Khaimah towards Al Manama, and from Al Dhaid towards Masafi. This is due to rainfall and flowing water in the Suhaila area.

Drivers are advised to be careful, use alternative routes during the closure, and stay away from valleys and dams where water is flowing, for their safety.

Ras Al Khaimah police warn of heavy rain

The police warned of heavy rain currently falling in the areas of Kadra, Shawaka, Al Mani'i, Al Watan Street and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Street.

They advised residents to stay away from wadis, reduce speed and excercise caution.

Kuwait issues advisory for residents amid rainy weather

For the safety of residents during the rainy season, Kuwait's General Fire Force said that it is necessary to:

• Stay at home and avoid going out except in necessary cases, while taking care not to go out for sea or land trips.

• Ensure the safety of electrical wiring and that it is tightly insulated.

• Perform maintenance and cleaning of rainwater drainage outlets.

• Ensure the operation of suction pumps, especially for owners of cellars, and it is also preferable to monitor roofs and balconies to ensure that rainwater does not accumulate in them.

• Adhere to the instructions issued by the official authorities and do not pay attention to rumours.

Kuwait urges companies to suspend outdoor work

Due to the current exceptional weather conditions and in order to provide a safe working environment for employees, the Public Authority for Manpower in Kuwait has called upon all companies whose nature of business requires work at outdoor sites, including order delivery companies, contracting companies, and others, to temporarily suspend outdoor operations, in order to preserve the safety of workers.

Ajman residents help remove fallen palm tree

A palm tree fell in the middle of the road in Ajman, and residents came together to help remove in a heartwarming display of solidarity and community feeling.

Sharjah Police close street to Fujairah 

Sharjah Police have announced a temporary closure of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street from Al Madam City to Fujairah in both directions, due to rainfall and the flow of wadis.

We urge drivers to exercise caution and care, and to take alternative routes during the closure period.

Waterfalls gush in Ras Al Khaimah

After a relentless cascade of rain, waterfalls in Ras Al Khaimah's mountains began gushing. The massive waterfalls then continued to join into smaller streams in a rare yet stunning occurrence.

Residents battle water accumulation in Ajman

Traffic alert

Dubai Police have informed motorists of water accumulation in Al Qusais in the direction of Sharjah. They have urged drivers to exercise caution.

Hourly forecast in Dubai

Dubai is in for a wet, thundery evening. Temperatures will be at 28°C — here's a look at an hour-by-hour breakdown of the forecast:

3pm: Temperatures will be 29°C, winds will blow at 31kmph.

4pm: Thunderstorms expected. Temperature eases slightly to 28°C, winds calm a touch to 29kmph.

5pm: Thunderstorms expected to continue. Temperatures to hit 28°C, winds nudge back up to 31kmph.

6pm: Stormy conditions to continue, 28°C, winds at 32 kmph and beginning to strengthen.

7pm: Unsettled weather persists into the evening. 28°C, winds climbing to 34kmph.

8pm: Thunderstorms, 28°C, winds holding at 34kmph.

9pm: 28°C, winds picking up further to 37kmph.

10pm: Still thundery. 28°C, winds now at 40kmph — noticeably strong.

11pm: Thunderstorms ongoing, winds surging to 50kmph. 28°C.

12am: Thunderstorms give way to heavy rain, but winds hit their peak at 58 km/h. 28°C. The worst of the wind is around midnight.

Sharjah residents laud 'proper planning'

A major concern for most Sharjah residents amid heavy rains has not been an issue this time around, KT's SM Ayaz Zakir has reported. 

Earlier, roads would remain flooded for a few days, bringing traffic to a standstill. However, this time around, many residents and workers said the situation was handled well, with water being cleared quickly and movement returning to normal within hours.

Afsar Ghulam, a taxi driver who has been working in Sharjah for 15 years, said he clearly noticed the difference on the roads.

“This time, I saw water-extracting trucks already stationed in low-lying areas and places with poor drainage,” he said.

Dubai Police deploy patrols across Hatta 

Brigadier Mubarak bin Mubarak Al Ketbi, Director of Hatta Police Station, has confirmed that patrols have been deployed across Hatta.

They have been deployed to respond to emergency reports in mountainous regions and valleys, as well as to manage traffic incidents during the unstable weather conditions currently affecting the country.

He explained that these patrols are specially equipped to navigate rough terrain with custom tyres, advanced smart devices, and modern communication systems linked to the Command and Control Centre.

"They carry a comprehensive range of rescue equipment, and the police personnel are trained to respond to emergencies with the utmost professionalism around the clock,” he added.

Dubai RTA to send real-time alerts about water accumulation during rains

Dubai drivers will get instant, real-time alerts about water accumulation on roads as part of a revamped weather response system, KT's Nasreen Abdulla reports.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has deployed a unified communication platform that tracks flooding across the city in real time, with field teams and smart systems working together to ensure drivers are immediately informed of hazardous conditions.

“We studied past rainfall and flooding, identified high-risk areas, and prepared targeted plans for pumps and tankers,” said Mohammed Al Ali, Director of the Enterprise Command and Control Department and Second Deputy of the Crisis and Emergency Team at RTA.

Omani resident found dead 

An Omani resident was found dead after his vehicle was swept away yesterday evening in a valley in Manah.

Parking remains free in Sharjah

Authorities in Sharjah, in a move to offer relief to residents, said that public parking will be free as the emirate undergoes adverse weather conditions.

Public parking is free for all, except smart yards, until further notice from Sharjah Municipality.

Heavy downpour in Ajman floods streets

Cars in Ajman could be seen wading through water accumulated on streets. Vehicles were making ripples in the rainwater as they attempted to navigate through flooded roads.

Emirates issues advisory 

Emirates has asked passengers to arrive at least two hours before departure as the Dubai undergoes adverse weather conditions on March 26 and 27.

Look: Trees uprooted after heavy rains in Ajman yesterday

Trees were uprooted and fell over cars in Ajman after a deluge of rain in the emirate yesterday. Residents could be seen attempting to clear the havoc caused by the weather.

Here are some scenes from Ajman today:

Rainfall accumulation alert issued in UAE 

UAE's Met Department has issued an alert informing of possible rainfall accumulation over northern and the eastern parts of the country.

The alert has been issued till 8pm.

Watch: Heavy rains batter parts of Dubai

Watch as parts of Dubai are hit with rainfall that intensified within minutes and turned normally busy highways into slow-moving queues.

Heavy rain could be heard battering windshields, and homes as trees swayed under the pressure of the strong winds.

Visibility dropped to low levels at the peak of the downpour, with thick curtains of rain.

Dubai Police reminds residents to stay safe

Dubai Police have issued an urgent road safety advisory urging all motorists across the emirate to exercise extreme caution as heavy rainfall continues to affect road conditions throughout Dubai and the wider UAE.

Police are urging motorists to reduce their speed and maintain a greater following distance than usual, warning that failure to do so increases the risk of serious collisions.

Drivers are also being advised to remain continuously alert to the behaviour of surrounding vehicles, particularly during sudden slowdowns in traffic flow.

Dubai Police have specifically warned against driving through standing water, as shallow puddles can also destabilise a vehicle.

Watch as rains pour in Ajman

Downpour begins in Dubai

Heavy rains have started pouring in Dubai as dark clouds shroud skies. Strong winds seem to be blowing, as cars slow to a crawl. Visibility has dropped severely.

Areas of highest rainfall in Oman

The Wilayat of Ibra in Oman recorded the highest amount of rainfall during the period from March 20 until today, at 292mm, followed by the Wilayat of Bahla with 212mm, then the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi with 190mm of precipitation, according to monitoring stations.

What the radar shows right now

Looking at the radar right now, there is a significant band of active storm cells pushing in from the Arabian Gulf and moving directly over the coastline.

The green returns across the wider area show that we have widespread light to moderate rainfall already affecting the region. However, the deep blue and red cores indicate some heavy, intense downpours in those specific pockets.

The red and orange cores point to extremely heavy rainfall rates that will possibly cause localised flooding on the roads, very poor visibility, and significant disruption on the ground.

Conditions to intensify tomorrow

The NCM said conditions will start over western regions, including Al Dhafra, before extending to Abu Dhabi during the night and early hours of Friday, KT's Sahim Salim reports.

By Friday daytime, the system is expected to spread further, covering northern areas, Al Ain and eastern regions.

This movement follows a familiar pattern seen in recent days, where rain systems developed over western areas before gradually shifting north and east across the country.

Oman Police rescue truck driver  

Authorities in Oman have rescued an Asian truck driver after his vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross Wadi Batha.

He has been transported to a safe area.

The Royal Oman Police has urged residents to follow advisories and avoid crossing wadis to prevent legal accountability.

Watch: Cars get swept as wadis flow in Oman

In a shocking video shared by Storm Centre on Instagram, two cars can be seen getting swept away by the flow of the wadi's current. The drivers can be seen attempting to navigate their way out as they struggle to regain control of their vehicles.

Watch below:

Fact check!

On Wednesday, strong winds of up to 74kmph swept parts of the UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region, as unstable weather conditions continued across the country.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), wind speeds reached:

• Up to 74kmph in Al Ghuwaifat

• Around 71kmph in Mussafah

• Up to 65kmph in offshore areas

Despite the intensity, the NCM stressed that these conditions are not a cyclone, pushing back against viral claims circulating on social media, KT's Haneen Dajani reported.

'Pray in your homes'

On Wednesday, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat asked residents to pray at home, instead of heading to the nearest mosque, owing to unstable weather conditions.

Mosque imams have also been instructed to to remind people via loudspeakers immediately after the call to prayer: “Pray in your homes” in all regions impacted by rain, advising worshippers accordingly based on local weather conditions.

Worshippers may also combine Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and Maghrib and Isha prayers if they are performed in mosques, depending on the weather conditions in each area.

Wadis continue to flow

Wadis began flowing after heavy rains yesterday, prompting authorities to remind residents to stay away from the strong currents of water. Take a look at this video from Storm Centre that shows them still flowing:

Today's weather forecast

After heavy rains and thunder across the country on March 25, the country is expected to continue to witness such conditions.

Conditions are expected to ease slightly today, with the impact of the low-pressure system relatively weakening. However, light to moderate rainfall may still occur at intervals, mainly over islands and northern areas.

However, the final wave of unstable weather is forecast between tonight and Friday.