Travelers are still stranded in Dubai due to historic floods that hit the desert nation as visitors camp at the airport with very little food and scenes of chaos.
The United Arab Emirates experienced the heaviest rain ever recorded on Tuesday, with the “historic weather event” wreaking havoc across the country.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airfield for international travel, was inundated by the deluge, leaving tourists stranded in the desert.
It’s been three days and travelers are still stuck at the airport and the food supply is dwindling.
Dubai International Airport is home to Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline operating more than 3,600 flights per week from its hub at Terminal 3. The airline takes travelers to more than 150 cities in 80 countries on six continents and has a fleet of almost 300 aircraft.
Travelers are still stranded in Dubai due to historic floods that hit the desert nation as visitors camp at the airport with very little food and scenes of chaos.
It’s been three days and travelers are still stuck at the airport and the food supply is dwindling.
However, the airline’s operations have faced severe disruption due to unprecedented flooding in Dubai and passengers have been left stranded at the airport to fend for themselves with very little information.
‘Yesterday I was at the airport for 14 hours and then at 2am my flight was canceled after a 10 hour delay. Now I’m stuck in Dubai until Tuesday. What a mess,’ a user who had been in Dubai for the Bitcoin conference published in X.
The airport operator admitted it was facing “very difficult conditions” alongside shocking images showing runways submerged in water.
On Wednesday alone, 290 flights to and from Dubai were canceled and another 400 were delayed.
Passengers reported that restaurants at the airport were short of supplies and that they had to make do with what they could get at Duty Free stores.
A British couple told the bbc who had been stuck at the wrong connecting airport in Dubai with their six-month-old son because their flight home from a wedding in Sydney was diverted.
The airport operator admitted it was facing “very difficult conditions” alongside shocking images showing runways submerged in water.
James and Elizabeth Devine, from Cambridge, now live off Duty Free snacks and say water supplies are low.
“Restaurants are closed,” Mr. Devine said. “The only food we have is from duty free, so it’s like they haven’t provided baby or toddler food, there’s no nappies, so we’re like handing nappies to people.”
“They had to open the duty free so we could eat some food, but it’s running out.”
Another stranded passenger posted on X to warn travelers to stay away from Dubai at this time.
“DON’T FLY TO DUBAI 16,” they wrote. ’16-hour unmanned queues that look more like mosh pits, airport is understaffed.
‘People faint, fight. Staying at the hotel is not allowed as the airport is full and food coupons do not work. “I slept on the floor for 48 hours,” the passenger wrote.
‘My poor 65-year-old mother was stuck in that airport for 33 hours. I finally just left,’ another user shared.
DailyMail.com has contacted Emirates for comment.
On Wednesday, Americans spoke online about their experiences of being trapped in the desert nation in the wake of the drastic flooding.
“Everyone is literally trapped here,” an American tourist from Los Angeles reported Tuesday from her hotel room in Dubai.
“If you try to get here, you won’t get it,” Wendy O. said in a TikTok video.
“Everyone is literally trapped here,” an American tourist from Los Angeles reported Tuesday from her hotel room in Dubai.
“If you try to get here, you won’t get it,” Wendy O. said in a TikTok video.
“Literally everything you see on the Internet is true: the flooding, the mall collapse, people getting stuck in their cars, people getting electrocuted while trying to get through all the flooding in the streets…
“That’s because they don’t have drainage here,” the TikToker explained.
“For the first time I’m happy to pay crazy taxes in Los Angeles to have proper drainage,” he said, adding that the flood is a “burning disaster” and he can’t wait to get home.
Other videos on TikTok of Americans visiting Dubai showed their horrified reactions to the crazy weather conditions.
A TikToker from New Jersey captured a video of herself in a taxi as the roads were flooded with water, which she called “the most traumatic experience.”
Another visitor shared images of a Dubai shopping center where water was falling dramatically on the marble floors and terrified shoppers were trying to flee.
Another influencer, known for posting investment TikToks, documented his experience with the crazy Dubai flood while in town for a Desci event.
A TikToker shared an update from her hotel while relaxing poolside in a bikini with a cocktail.
An American businessman visiting Dubai said he was “trying to recover” when the flooding hit. “The roads are like swimming pools right now,” he said, adding that the Bitcoin conference he was attending in the city was canceled due to extreme flooding.
A group of influencers visiting the desert city were trapped inside a Rolls Royce during the flood, while a video captured the terrified tourists floating inside their luxury vehicle in the middle of the road.
While other travelers are stranded at the chaotic airport, other visitors are stuck in their luxury hotels in Dubai, but they are making the most of the situation because they are lucky to have access to food and drink.
A TikToker shared an update from her hotel while relaxing poolside in a bikini with a cocktail.
“Dubai flood update,” he said. ‘Fun trapped in my hotel, but the vibes are high. I’ll definitely have to attend some events later, but until then…cheers,” she said while clinking her glass to the camera.