Saudi and Emirati authorities have taken urgent actions due to the continuous heavy rainfall over several days in various regions of the Gulf. The UAE Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Authority confirmed the elevation of preparedness levels and the readiness of the national system to deal with the weather situation in the country, ensuring effective responses and necessary support at both the national and local levels.
The UAE Ministry of Interior recommended coordinating to activate remote learning for Thursday and Friday for all educational institutions, with decisions made by the competent authorities at the federal level and local emergency and crisis management teams, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and the UAE School Education Foundation, depending on developments and their effects.
It also recommended activating remote work systems for all governmental and private sector institutions, except for essential jobs that require physical presence or those involved in response and recovery efforts from the weather event, with decisions taken by relevant authorities at the federal level and local emergency management teams based on situation developments.
Additionally, the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Crisis and Emergency Management Authority, decided to close all roads leading to areas with flowing valleys, water accumulations, and dams during the weather event.
Meanwhile, the Saudi National Center for Meteorology forecasted continued moderate to heavy thunderstorms leading to flash floods, accompanied by hail showers and active winds stirring dust and sand in parts of the Eastern, Riyadh, Najran, Jazan, and Asir regions. Saudi authorities ordered the closure of schools in several areas of the Kingdom after floodwaters inundated many roads.
The Saudi National Center warned of "heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, reduced horizontal visibility, hail, flash floods, and thunderstorms" in these areas.
