Abu Dhabi News.Net

16/04/2024

UAE authorities on Tuesday urged the public to remain indoors amid severe storms sweeping the Emirates.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said people should only leave their homes in “extreme necessity” in a safety alert.

Dubai Airports said 17 flights were cancelled on Tuesday due to the weather.

Weather warnings remain in place after large parts of the UAE were lashed by torrential rain and thunderstorms in the early hours of Tuesday.
Heavy downpours were recorded in Abu Dhabi and Dubai shortly after midnight as thunder awoke people in the cities and lightning lit up the skies.

Intense rain continued in Dubai for several hours on Tuesday morning in what weather experts warned was the “first wave” of stormy weather set for the Emirates during the day.

Conditions eased later in the morning before the Emirates was hit by a fresh flurry of rainfall shortly before 3pm.

Traffic disruption

Widespread flooding was reported on roads due to the continued rainfall, while flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were experiencing delays.

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority advised motorists using Al Asayel Street and First Al Khail Street, coming from Business Bay towards Jebel Ali, to use alternative routes such as Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.

The authority also warned of expected delays on Umm Suqeim street, with drivers asked to travel on Hessa Street instead.

Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road was earlier brought to a standstill as rainwater flooded stretches of the motorway.

The RTA said it had response teams in place to deal with disruption caused by the persistent rain.

The authority said the Dubai Metro operating hours would be extended until 3am on Wednesday to support commuters who required alternative transport.

The National Centre of Meteorology issued yellow and orange alerts for much of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, cautioning that “hazardous weather events” were expected to last until 6pm on Wednesday.

It forecast further rainfall, thunder and hail throughout the morning and the evening and said wind speeds could reach 70kph.

Several roads were closed in the Northern Emirates, while landslides were reported in Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain.

The storms are expected to reach their peak on Tuesday, with conditions gradually easing on Wednesday.

The NCM said motorists should “avoid driving unless absolutely necessary” and to exercise caution if travelling.

Several public parks and beaches across the Emirates will be closed on Tuesday.

Flights cancelled

Significant disruption was caused to flights travelling in and out of Dubai.
“Dubai Airports can confirm that normal operations at Dubai International have been affected due to inclement weather conditions on Tuesday, 16 April, with some delays to arriving and departing flights,” a Dubai Airports official said.

“Consequently, a total of nine outbound and eight inbound flights were cancelled this morning, and three flights were diverted to other neighbouring airports, one of which has since returned to DXB.

“We urge guests to check directly with their airline to obtain the latest information on the status of their flight, allow extra travel time to the airport, and use Dubai Metro for smoother transit. We are actively collaborating with our service partners and airlines to minimise any inconvenience experienced by our valued guests.”

The weather forced flydubai to cancel flights, while several other journeys were delayed.

“We are working hard to minimise any impact on our passengers’ travel schedules and are co-ordinating with all parties at the airport,” the airline said.

“We will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and advise our passengers to arrive at the airport sufficiently before their flight times and check the flight status via the company’s website.”

Emirates Airline had urged travellers to plan ahead warning there could be delays on the roads leading to the airport.

“Due to adverse weather conditions forecast in Dubai on 16 and 17 April, customers headed to Dubai International Airport may experience road delays,” Emirates said.

“Plan for extra travel time to reach the airport, and complete check-in formalities before arrival for added convenience.”

Etihad Airways, the UAE's national airline, also said that some flights may be delayed due to the adverse weather.

“Due to the potential of adverse weather including heavy rains in Abu Dhabi from 15 to 16 April, some Etihad Airways flights may be delayed,” the airline said.

“Guests are advised to regularly check etihad.com for the latest information about their flight departure and allow plenty of time to travel to the airport.
“Etihad will be working closely with guests affected by any disruption to assist them with changes to their itineraries and to reach their final destination.”

Speed limits cut

Abu Dhabi Police temporarily reduced speed limits to 100kph on several roads on Tuesday, including the Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road.

The force advised motorists to “exercise caution due to the rainy weather and to follow the changing speed limits displayed on electronic information boards”.

Storm Centre, a popular UAE weather monitoring account, shared footage of the weather on X, including thick clouds looming over Abu Dhabi and flooded valleys.

Nationwide response

Schools across the Emirates closed on Tuesday due to the conditions.
Pupils will study from home in online classes, in a model set up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Dubai, government employees will work from home on Tuesday, with some other public sector departments expected to do the same.
Nationwide, government school pupils will study from home until Thursday. Sharjah announced the same for private schools. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, private schools closed on Tuesday.

It is up to private sector companies to decide whether employees should work from home, but the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation urged anyone with outdoor workers to take precautions.

More wet weather to come

Dr Ahmed Habib of the NCM told The National on Monday that the stormy weather would occur in two stages.

“The first wave of the weather condition will see the formation of cumulus clouds in the southern and coastal areas by this evening [Monday], increasing in intensity before spreading to major cities in Abu Dhabi, followed by Dubai and the Northern Emirates, bringing varied intensities of rain, most of which will be heavy, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and possibly hail,” he said.

“The second wave of the low-pressure system will begin around noon on Tuesday, with the rain becoming heavier in Al Dhafra, then moving towards Abu Dhabi during the late hours and extending towards Dubai and the Northern Emirates, continuing until Wednesday morning before it starts to recede in the afternoon.

Source: The National
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/04/16/abu-dhabi-and-dubai-lashed-by-heavy-rain-thunder-and-lightning/

People urged to stay indoors and warned against driving unless necessary during hazardous conditions

31/10/2023

From 11am today, 1 November 2023, all Etihad Airways flights will depart and arrive at Etihad’s new home, Terminal A•

The first commercial flight from Terminal A, Etihad flight EY224, operated as a special ceremonial flight to India

Check your terminal- Etihad flights will steadily transition to Terminal A between 9 and 14 November•

As the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International’s highly-anticipated new Terminal A yesterday.

Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A yesterday at 14.35. The flight used one of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, with 359 guests onboard.

Etihad and Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed the guests who made history as they enjoyed the seamless experience of checking in at Terminal A for the first time.

To commemorate the occasion, all passengers, including those in both Economy and Business classes, had the unique opportunity to be the inaugural guests at the new flagship Etihad Lounges which span three floors at Terminal A.

After sampling a special menu of celebratory cuisine at the Etihad Lounge, guests made their way to Gate C27, where themed decorations and a photo booth awaited to capture this historic moment.

The ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders. Among those present were Etihad's CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO and Frank McCrorie, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. Antonoaldo and Frank both gave speeches to officially welcome the airport’s first guests.

Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad, said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.

“Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience.

“As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”

Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as whole. The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity, and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers. We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A.”

Terminal A is a key pillar of Etihad’s growth strategy, with the capability to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations.

The Terminal provides dedicated check-in desks for Etihad’s Economy guests, as well as exclusive areas for guests travelling in Business and First to enjoy a fast-tracked, premium experience. Additional state-of-the-art biometric self-bag drop facilities are available for all guests wishing to take advantage of a speedy check-in.

Guests flying in Etihad’s premium cabins can take advantage of the kerbside drop off facility outside of the First and Business class exclusive check-in area, where porters are on hand to assist with luggage.

Etihad’s expansive new airport lounges feature an array of cuisine and dining options, a rooftop cocktail bar, a variety of relaxation spaces, games room and a family room. For added convenience, the Lounge offers direct boarding access for three aircraft, meaning many guests will be able to board their flight straight from the Lounge.

Etihad will transition flights to Terminal A in a phased approach from 9 November and during this time the airline advises all passengers to carefully check their terminal information within two days of travel to ensure the most accurate information. Between 9 and 14 November, Etihad will operate from both Terminal A and Terminal 3, and from 11am on 14 November Etihad is set to operate all flights from Terminal A.