TORRENTIAL rain in Dubai has led to major disruptions in the city as planes are left swimming in floods and shopping malls swamped underwater.
Flights were diverted from Dubai International Airport as homes, metro stations and even the busy roads were left badly flooded - leaving the Middle East's millionaire playground at a standstill.
Operations at the world's busiest airport were suspended for 25 minutes - with 21 outbound and 24 inbound flights cancelled.
Another three flights were swiftly diverted to other neighbouring airports.
Shocking footage shows the jumbo jets battling against the horrific conditions to safely escape the sea of water infiltrating the runway.
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The airport later announced it would be temporarily diverting arriving flights this evening, until the weather conditions improve.
The Dubai International Airport wrote on X earlier: "We are temporarily diverting arriving flights this evening until the weather conditions improve.
"Departures will continue to operate."
They also reminded passengers to check their flight status with their airline and to allow "significant" extra time to get to the airport.
Dubai Police warned of an impending storm yesterday as they urged people to steer clear of beaches and valleys due to flood risks.
Cops said flooding may occur due to "rains, strong winds, thunder, lightning, and sometimes hail, reducing visibility".
Pictures show the gloomy Dubai skyline draped in darkness as lightning sparks every few moments.
At least one Dubai Metro station was also plunged into carnage as travellers made their way through the rivers of water that had bypassed the gates.
Out on the roads, the weather caused major traffic chaos as cars battled through the conditions to get home.
Pictures show men pushing their cars through intense puddles of water going up to their knees.
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Dramatic videos shared on social media show flooded roads as many cars were left stranded in deep water.
One clip showed a Rolls Royce sitting still in a rushing river of water.
The man who posted the video wrote on X: "This is not what I expected in Dubai!
"My condolences to the Rolls Royce owner!"
Other videos and pictures show flooded metro stations and the top of palm trees poking out from an overflowing street.
Wind speeds are thought to have reached up to 70kph in parts of the Middle East today, announced the National Centre of Meteorology.
The floods also affected the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain as flagship shopping centres like the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates were soaked.
Schools were shut across the UAE and are expected to remain locked up for the whole of Wednesday.
I had never seen anything like this, so I hid with my mother... the sound of rain scared me
Ali Hassan
A nine-year-old boy in Manama, Bahrain, was petrified by the weather as he watched his home get pummelled by heavy rain, thunder and lightning overnight.
Ali Hassan told AFP: "I like to play in the rain, but for the first time it scares me.
"I was terrified by the sound of thunder and the sky was lit by lightning.
"I had never seen anything like this, so I hid with my mother... the sound of rain scared me."
Rain is uncommon in the UAE, an arid Arabian Peninsula nation, although does occur during in the winter at various points.
A lack of drainage on roads and in other areas - due to the irregularity of rain - are believed to have heightened the flooding.
The UAE's annual rainfall average sits at 100mm but some inland areas have already recorded a whopping 80mm over the last 24-hours.
Influencer Dan Osborne was on a luxury Dubai getaway with his son Teddy before the pair were battered by the storm.
The former Towie star filmed the deluge from his hotel balcony as driving rain soaked the resort and lightning lit up the gloomy sky.
All football matches in “local competitions” scheduled for Tuesday were cancelled.
Including the blockbuster Asian Champions League semi-final clash between the UAE's Al Ain and Saudi side Al Hilal.
Many of the games will now be played on Wednesday at 5pm local time.
