DUBAI: Heavy rain and flooding caused travel chaos in the UAE on Saturday with flights diverted and roads closed.
Dubai International, one of the world's busiest airports, cancelled, diverted and delayed flights, Dubai Airports said.
Flights were delayed throughout the day and some have been cancelled or diverted to nearby Al-Maktoum airport.
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) told Arab News that cloud-seeding, the UAE's program designed to enhance rainfall, had begun on Thursday and will continue until Monday.
Meteorologist Mohammad Al-Abri explained that when dense clouds that are formed from water vapour - known as Cumulonimbus - are near the country, the UAE carries out its cloud seeding program.
"We began cloud seeding on Thursday. When there are (Cumulonimbus) clouds we do cloud seeding. Tomorrow afternoon the cloud formation will change and thats when we will stop the cloud seeding." Al-Abri said.
The NCM said that since Thursday they have fired 425 flares of cloud seeding chemicals into the clouds and an additional 152 from ground cloud seeding generator.
Video footage and images posted on social media showed part of the airport's runway area submerged underwater.
Emirates airlines said several flights to and from Dubai, where it is based, had been delayed. Flydubai said its flights were also delayed, while some had been diverted.
“With additional rain expected later this evening, the disruption is expected to continue for the next 24 hours,” Dubai Airports said. “Customers are advised to check directly with their airlines for more specific flight information and allow additional time to get to the airport.
Other images showed sections of the main Sheikh Zayed Road, which runs through Dubai, blocked by the floods.
Motorists were seen pushing their cars through the water and having to leave their vehicles.
*With Reuters
