Dubai Police have issued a stay indoors advisory as heavy rainfall continues to lash parts of the United Arab Emirates, reviving memories of last year&rsquo;s record floods that brought the city to a standstill.
Residents received emergency alerts urging caution due to unstable weather conditions and advising them to avoid stepping out unless necessary until midday Friday. The warning follows intense showers reported across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The UAE&rsquo;s National Centre of Meteorology has issued a heavy rainfall alert for Thursday and Friday, with forecasts indicating continued downpours in major urban centres. Similar weather warnings have also been released in neighbouring Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
According to regional reports, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence has called on citizens and residents to remain vigilant, take necessary safety precautions, and avoid low-lying areas vulnerable to flash floods.
Social media platforms have been flooded with visuals showing Dubai&rsquo;s skyline engulfed in clouds, with the Burj Khalifa partially disappearing from view due to dense cloud cover.
The situation has raised concerns due to the memory of April 2024, when unprecedented rainfall inundated homes, submerged roads, and severely disrupted transport. The lack of adequate stormwater drainage at the time worsened flooding, affecting key infrastructure, including Dubai International Airport, the world&rsquo;s busiest hub for international travel.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as residents brace for more rain in the coming hours.

Heavy rainfall disrupts Dubai as police warn residents to avoid travel till Friday

Dubai Issues Stay-Indoors Alert Amid Heavy Rain

Heavy rainfall disrupts Dubai as police warn residents to avoid travel till Friday

December 19, 2025 | 11:38 IST