UAE residents deal with flooded homes, damaged cars after heavy rains

Some UAE residents witnessed flooded streets, cars partially submerged in water and tree branches fall across parking areas as heavy rain and strong winds hit parts of the country on Wednesday.

From Al Nuaimiya and Al Khor to low-lying areas of Al Rashidiya, the impact of the storm was visible in many neighbourhoods, with water entering homes, parking areas turning into pools and strong winds damaging windows and balconies.

In Al Rashidiya, where many residents live in small villas and work as cab drivers, tailors and bakers, water entered homes located in low-lying areas. “We had been watching the news since the last week, so we knew rain was coming,” said Rafiqul Hussain, a driver who lives in the area. “A day before the rain, we started moving things like the mattress, pillows and our belongings kept the TV on a higher shelf and moved important items away from the floor. The torrential rain of April 2024 was in our mind and we suffered a lot, so this time we didn’t want to take any risk."

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Despite the preparations, water still entered homes. “Within minutes, the water started coming inside. At one point, it felt like the whole hall would fill up,” he said. “It stayed inside for almost four to five hours. We were just standing and watching at first because there was nothing much we could do while it was raining heavily.”

Once the rain slowed down after an hour, residents stepped out to clear the water together. “Our neighbours, shopkeepers, even kids helped came to help us and residents of those homes, where water entered. It took time, but slowly we managed,” said Hussain adding that this was the routine for the last 2 days, but Thusday showers were lighter.

And residents living in high-rise buildings faced a different kind of problem. Zeba Khan, a resident of City tower said that the situation turned intense within minutes. “The wind was extremely strong. Things kept in the balcony started moving and hitting the walls. For a moment, I was worried they might fall down,” said Khan.

She said the damage happened quickly. “My balcony door suddenly slammed and cracked, and at the same time, the kitchen window also broke. Rainwater started entering from both sides. We had to rush to close everything and keep towels around.”

Shaver Ali, a resdients of Al Khor tower and a businessman said that water entered his apartment after a window broke. “I had been to my office early and returned home by 12. We have the old type of windows and I had forgotton to shut it,” said Ali.

At around 1.30 pm, while Ali was having his lunch, he heard a loud cracking noise and it was his bedroom window. “The window glass broke due to the pressure of the wind, and water started flowing inside. We were trying to manage it, but it was difficult at that moment.”

 He added that the situation improved once the rain stopped. “After the rain slowed down, we started cleaning immediately. We used mops and towels and cleared everything.”

Residents also reported issues with parked vehicles, particularly those left in open areas during the storm. Ramee Al Numan, a restaurant manager living in Al Khor, said he had parked his car a few lanes away near his workplace due to lack of parking in his building, but returned to find tree branches fallen over it. “I didn’t think much about the trees around when I parked. When I came back, I saw branches all over my car. Thankfully, there is no damage,” he said.

However, the situation remains unresolved as a fallen date palm behind the vehicle has blocked its exit. “Right now, I can’t even move the car because a big tree has fallen behind it. Once that is cleared, only then I can take it out. I’m just hoping it doesn’t rain again, otherwise it may cause damage,” Ramee added.

Authorities said they were actively responding to the situation. Ajman Police assured the public of their readiness to deal with the weather conditions around the clock and said residents can use its smart application to obtain vehicle damage certificates or report loss of number plates caused by rain-related incidents.

Ajman Transport Authority said they continue to implement their operational plan during the current weather conditions by intensifying the efforts of public transport teams and taxi vehicles and continuously monitoring traffic, as part of its commitment to the safety of users and ensuring the continuity of services.

While many residents said prior experience from last year’s heavy rains helped them prepare better this time, the situation in some low-lying areas and open parking spaces continues to pose challenges as clean-up efforts remain ongoing.