UAE Issues RED ALERT Weather Warning; Flights Cancelled, Schools Closed, Offices Told To Work From Home Amid Safety Concerns
The UAE has issued a red alert weather warning for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and locations across the country as heavy rains continue to fall.
The National Centre of Meteorology shared the alert, advising people in the country to be “extremely vigilant”.
As well as the red alert notice, issued for Tuesday April 16 and Wednesday April 17, there are also yellow and orange alerts for large parts of the country.
UAE red alert weather warning
In a message on social media, the NCM explained that a red alert means “Hazardous weather events of exceptional severity are forecast”
#تنبيه #المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) April 16, 2024
#Alert_#NCM pic.twitter.com/Pz58p6cmMP
The warning comes as the UAE has moved public sector institutions to remote working rules and Dubai has ordered private schools to switch to remote learning.
Heavy rain has struck across the country, with roads flooding and flights from Dubai International Airport being cancelled.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a weather advisory regarding the weather condition across the country over the coming days.
NCM announced that until Tuesday afternoon, the country will experience convective clouds over coastal areas moving towards Eastern and Western regions associated with rainfall of different intensities, accompanied by lightning and thunder, and a probability of hail in some areas.
An official government statement confirmed that all of its entities would continue remote working in the city on Wednesday, April 17.
As well as government entities moving to remote-working duties, private schools will switch to remote learning.
Private sector employers were also urged to adopt remote-work patterns on Wednesday, April 17.
A statement on official social media channels said: “The Government of Dubai has extended remote working for employees of all its entities until Wednesday, April 17, due to weather conditions.
“Private schools in Dubai have also been directed to continue remote learning tomorrow.
“Private sector entities are urged to adopt remote working tomorrow and take all measures necessary to ensure everyone’s safety”.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority confirmed that all private schools, nurseries and universities in the country must offer distance learning to protect the safety of pupils and staff.
A KHDA statement said: “In light of prevailing weather conditions and keeping in mind the safety of students and staff, Dubai private schools, nurseries, and universities must continue to offer distance learning on Wednesday, April 17.”
Some flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled amid heavy rain and adverse weather in the UAE.
At least 17 flights in and out of Dubai International Airport (DXB) were cancelled and airlines issued statements advising passengers to monitor weather reports and allow extra time to make journeys to the airport.
As well as flight cancellations some journeys were redirected to other airports said DXB in a statement.
Nine flights set to depart from the city and a further eight inbound journeys were cancelled and there were reported delays for departures and arrivals.
In a statement on social media DXB said: “Due to weather conditions, we are currently experiencing some delays in arriving and departing flights. 9 outbound and 8 inbound flights have been cancelled this morning and 3 flights were diverted to other airports.
