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Downpour begins in Dubai, cars slow to a crawl as visibility drops
| March 26, 2026 6:40 PM CST

Watch: Heavy rains batter parts of Dubai

Watch as parts of Dubai are hit with rainfall that intensified within minutes and turned normally busy highways into slow-moving queues.

Heavy rain could be heard battering windshields, and homes as trees swayed under the pressure of the strong winds.

Visibility dropped to low levels at the peak of the downpour, with thick curtains of rain.

Dubai Police reminds residents to stay safe

Dubai Police have issued an urgent road safety advisory urging all motorists across the emirate to exercise extreme caution as heavy rainfall continues to affect road conditions throughout Dubai and the wider UAE.

Police are urging motorists to reduce their speed and maintain a greater following distance than usual, warning that failure to do so increases the risk of serious collisions.

Drivers are also being advised to remain continuously alert to the behaviour of surrounding vehicles, particularly during sudden slowdowns in traffic flow.

Dubai Police have specifically warned against driving through standing water, as shallow puddles can also destabilise a vehicle.

Watch as rains pour in Ajman Downpour begins in Dubai

Heavy rains have started pouring in Dubai as dark clouds shroud skies. Strong winds seem to be blowing, as cars slow to a crawl. Visibility has dropped severely.

Areas of highest rainfall in Oman

The Wilayat of Ibra in Oman recorded the highest amount of rainfall during the period from March 20 until today, at 292mm, followed by the Wilayat of Bahla with 212mm, then the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi with 190mm of precipitation, according to monitoring stations.

What the radar shows right now

Looking at the radar right now, there is a significant band of active storm cells pushing in from the Arabian Gulf and moving directly over the coastline.

The green returns across the wider area show that we have widespread light to moderate rainfall already affecting the region. However, the deep blue and red cores indicate some heavy, intense downpours in those specific pockets.

The red and orange cores point to extremely heavy rainfall rates that will possibly cause localised flooding on the roads, very poor visibility, and significant disruption on the ground.

Conditions to intensify tomorrow

The NCM said conditions will start over western regions, including Al Dhafra, before extending to Abu Dhabi during the night and early hours of Friday, KT's Sahim Salim reports.

By Friday daytime, the system is expected to spread further, covering northern areas, Al Ain and eastern regions.

This movement follows a familiar pattern seen in recent days, where rain systems developed over western areas before gradually shifting north and east across the country.

Oman Police rescue truck driver

Authorities in Oman have rescued an Asian truck driver after his vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross Wadi Batha.

He has been transported to a safe area.

The Royal Oman Police has urged residents to follow advisories and avoid crossing wadis to prevent legal accountability.

Watch: Cars get swept as wadis flow in Oman

In a shocking video shared by Storm Centre on Instagram, two cars can be seen getting swept away by the flow of the wadi's current. The drivers can be seen attempting to navigate their way out as they struggle to regain control of their vehicles.

Watch below:

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