The UAE is preparing for a spell of unstable weather that forecasters say will bring heavy showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds to parts of the country over the coming days. Authorities and weather services are urging residents and motorists to stay alert after the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) flagged a surface low-pressure extension driving convective activity over the emirates.
Meteorologists expect the heaviest rain to fall over northern and eastern areas — including parts of Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Al Ain — while coastal cities may face scattered showers and gusty conditions. The NCM’s bulletin and maps show convective cloud development that could produce sudden downpours and localized flooding, particularly in wadis and low-lying urban stretches.
Forecasters also warned of fresh to strong winds reaching speeds of around 50–55 km/h at times, raising the risk of blowing dust, reduced visibility and hazardous conditions for small craft at sea. Local police and emergency services have reminded drivers to slow down on slick roads and avoid flood-prone valleys until the system moves on.
Several news outlets and social posts captured wet scenes across the country overnight — from downpours in desert stretches to footage of animals and residents out in the rain — and some areas reported temporary water pooling and traffic slowdowns. Authorities have issued yellow and orange alerts where needed and asked the public to follow official updates.
The current warnings come against a backdrop of growing concern about how sudden, intense rainfall affects rapidly urbanizing cities in the Gulf. Dubai and other emirates have, in recent years, invested in upgraded drainage and flood-management projects to increase resilience — part of a longer-term push after disruptive storms highlighted infrastructure limits. Officials say short-term precautions and a careful public response remain essential while the weather system persists.
Practical steps authorities recommend include avoiding driving through standing water, steering clear of seasonal valleys (wadis), securing outdoor items that can be blown away, and checking travel plans if you are due to be on the water or on regional flights. Emergency hotlines and official social-media channels will carry the latest alerts and any targeted closures.
What to watch for in the next 48–72 hours: sporadic but intense showers with cloud-to-ground lightning, short-lived but powerful gusts, patchy flooding in low-lying areas, and periods of poor visibility from dust where winds pick up. Residents are advised to keep devices charged, follow updates from the NCM and local civil-defence authorities, and avoid unnecessary travel during peak downpours.
