The desert nation of the United Arab Emirates recently received unusually copious rain, which flooded the Dubai International Airport and several roads on Tuesday, April 16. Some say it's the heaviest rainfall in 75 years.
According to state news agency WAM, Tuesday's rain was "a historic weather event" for the country, surpassing "anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949," before crude oil's discovery and when it was still a British protectorate.
While rain also fell on the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, in places such as Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, the rains in the UAE were acute, with cloud seeding being one of the culprits.
Cloud seeding in the UAE is commonplace as an alternative to energy-hungry desalination plants to provide water for the country.
Several reports quoted National Center for Meteorology meteorologists as saying they flew six or seven cloud-seeding flights before the rains.
The center did not immediately respond to questions, though flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed one aircraft affiliated with the UAE's cloud-seeding efforts flew around the country as late as Sunday, April 14.
Meanwhile, standing water lapped on taxiways at the Dubai International Airport as aircraft landed. Arrivals were halted Tuesday night, and passengers struggled to reach terminals through the floodwater covering surrounding roads.
Dubai International acknowledged on Wednesday morning, April 17, that the flooding had left "limited transportation options" and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn't reach the airfield.
"Recovery will take some time," the airport said on X, formerly Twitter. "We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through these challenges."
Because of the rains, authorities canceled school, and the government instituted remote work for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Oman, at least 19 people were killed in heavy rains in recent days, according to the country's National Committee for Emergency Management. Among the dead are 10 schoolchildren swept away in a vehicle with an adult.
