UAE readies contingency plans amid heavy rain

Light to heavy rain fell in various parts of the country on Thursday, including Ras Al Khaimah, and is expected to continue for 4 days as a result of the country being affected by an extension of a surface low pressure, accompanied by an extension of a low pressure in the upper layers of the atmosphere, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

The NCM expects Friday’s weather to be partly cloudy to cloudy at times, with a chance of some cumulus clouds accompanied by rainfall in the northern and eastern regions. Winds, according to the NCM, will be northwesterly to southwesterly, moderate to active in speed and sometimes strong over the sea, and stirring dust, with speeds ranging from 15 to 30 km/h, amounting to 45 km/h, while the waves will be rough in the Arabian Gulf and rough to moderate in the Sea of Oman.

In order to ensure everyone’s safety, Dubai and Sharjah municipalities have announced the closure of beaches and public parks in both the Emirates on Thursday (Dec.18) and Friday (Dec.19) due to unstable weather conditions.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has urged private sector establishments in areas most affected by the prevailing weather conditions to implement remote work on Friday (Dec19, 2025).

The Ministry urged all private sector entities nationwide to exercise caution and implement all necessary occupational health and safety measures during the current period of adverse weather conditions. They must also adhere to directives issued by local authorities in each emirate regarding these conditions and their impact on business operations.

Separately, in accordance with the directives of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, it has been decided that Dubai government employees will work remotely on Friday (Dec.19), due to the current weather conditions.

This decision applies to all Dubai government employees, except those whose jobs require them to be present at the workplace. The private sector is encouraged to implement the same procedure to ensure everyone’s safety.

Global Village administration announced it will be closing its gates and all activities suspended from today (Thursday, Dec.18) until further notice to ensure the safety of the visitors due to rain and storms.

“In light of the evolving weather situation, and to ensure the comfort and safety of all Global Village guests and employees, it has been decided to close Global Village and suspend its activities on Thursday, until further notice,” Global Village said in a statement.

Dubai Police announced full readiness to respond to emergencies expected during the upcoming period of unstable weather conditions, with extensive deployment of land and marine rescue teams across the emirate.

Colonel Khalid Al Hammadi, Director of the Search and Rescue Department at the General Department of Transport and Rescue, confirmed that teams are positioned at 22 strategic locations-13 land rescue points, including Hatta, and 9 marine rescue points along Dubai’s coastline. These locations ensure rapid response to any incident that may arise due to changing weather.

He explained that land rescue teams are equipped with specialized 4x4 vehicles, rescue trucks, and advanced tools such as hydraulic lifting equipment, cutters, saws, and other modern rescue technologies. In addition, 120 cranes have been made available in cooperation with Emirates Auctions to support emergency operations requiring heavy lifting.

Marine rescue teams are also on full alert, operating around the clock. They are patrolling coastal areas and valleys to ensure quick intervention when needed. These teams are supported by specialized rescue boats, jet skis, trained lifeguards, and professional divers capable of handling a wide range of maritime emergencies.

Abu Dhabi Police called on drivers to adhere to safe driving and safety measures on internal and external roads during the expected rainfall and weather fluctuations in the coming days, and to avoid approaching areas where valleys run and water accumulates, and to follow the instructions of the competent authorities to ensure the safety of everyone. It urged road users to monitor the weather conditions before moving in the vehicle, reduce speeds on roads, and leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles.