A man crosses a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. Dubai, the Middle East's financial centre, has been paralysed by the torrential rain that caused floods across the UAE and Bahrain an...A man crosses a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. Dubai, the Middle East's financial centre, has been paralysed by the torrential rain that caused floods across the UAE and Bahrain and left 18 dead in Oman on April 14 and 15. (Photo by Ahmed RAMAZAN / AFP) (Photo by AHMED RAMAZAN/AFP via Getty Images)MORE LESS
This week the United Arab Emirates experienced historic rains and flooding causing airports, schools, and businesses to shut down. The region received about a year’s worth of rain in one day and the infrastructure of cities such as Dubai was unprepared to handle the deluge. The rains began late Monday and lasted through Tuesday. On Thursday, many roads were still closed due to flooding.
People exit their cars and wade through a flooded street
People wade through a submerged street after heavy rain in United Arab Emirates on April 16, 2024. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Cars submerged on the street
A view of submerged cars after heavy rainfall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A Dubai highway is flooded, stranding vehicles
Cars are stranded on a flooded street in Dubai following heavy rains on April 18, 2024. Dubai’s giant highways were clogged by flooding and its major airport was in chaos as the Middle East financial center remained gridlocked, a day after the heaviest rains on record. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
More stranded cars on flooded streets
Cars stranded on April 18, 2024. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Cars attempt to drive through flooded streets
Cars drive in a flooded street on April 17, 2024. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
The storm has passed but streets remain flooded
Cars are stranded on a flooded al-Khalil road in the al-Barsha area in Dubai following heavy rains on April 18, 2024. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Traffic backed up on Dubai highway due to flooding
People walk along an flooded highway on April 18, 2024 (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
A man sits on a fence in front of a flooded store
A man sits on the fence in front of a flooded store as people wade through submerged streets on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Two people use an inflatable mattress as a raft
Two men use an inflatable bed to float above the water on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Someone steers a canoe through flooded streets
A man steers his canoe on a flooded street in Dubai following heavy rains on April 18, 2024. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Cars navigate flooded streets
Cars drive in a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. (Photo by AHMED RAMAZAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Trucks pump water from streets
Trucks pump water from a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. (Photo by AHMED RAMAZAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A man crosses a flooded street
A man crosses a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. (Photo by AHMED RAMAZAN/AFP via Getty Images)
People find ways to navigate flooded streets
People wade through submerged streets after heavy rain in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
People trying to stay dry on flooded streets
People try to avoid getting wet as they cross a flooded street following heavy rains in Sharjah on April 17, 2024. (Photo by AHMED RAMAZAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A car almost completely submerged by flood water
Cars are stranded on a flooded in Dubai following heavy rains on April 18, 2024. (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Christine Frapech
is TPM's designer and event planner based in New York.
