Dubai Foreign Office warning issued for 'severe disruption' amid flooding

Scots travelling to Dubai are being urged to keep watch on their flights as the country battles unprecedented rains and floods.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has today (April 17) updated its travel advice for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after the popular destination was hit by an "apocalyptic superstorm". It comes as the UAE's biggest airline Emirates has cancelled a number of flights as a result of adverse weather conditions.

This has resulted in passengers stranded at airports across the Middle Eastern country. Anyone with flights booked should check with their selected airlines, while any British national already in Dubai that has run into trouble can contact the FCDO for assistance.

On Gov.UK, the FCDO warned: "Airports in the UAE, including Dubai, are facing severe disruption following extreme weather. Check with your airline before travelling. Contact FCDO if you are in the UAE and in need of emergency support."

On Tuesday, Dubai saw more than it's yearly average amount of rain fall in a single day - more than 4.7 inches - a historic weather event in a country known for its arid desert climate. It is said the last time the UAE saw such torrential rain was back in 1949- 75 years ago.

The same day, Emirates took to social media advising any passengers with flights booked out of Dubai International Airport "not to go", as all check-ins have been suspended until midnight tonight. Dozens of Emirates and other flights were also diverted from the airport, resulting in travel chaos.

In a series of tweets posted this morning, Emirates said: "Emirates is suspending check-in for passengers departing @DXB from 8:00am on 17 April until midnight, due to operational challenges caused by bad weather and road conditions. Affected customers can contact their booking agent or visit https://emirat.es/support for rebooking.

"Passengers arriving in Dubai and already in transit will continue to be processed for their flights. Customers can expect delays to departures and arrivals, and are advised to check the latest flight schedules on https://emirat.es/flightstatus.

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused. Emirates is working hard to restore our scheduled operations, and our teams will provide all possible support to affected customers. Please DM [direct message] us if you require any assistance."

The Foreign Office regularly provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions and its latest update is the second made for the UAE in one week.

On Monday, April 15, it advised UK nationals either travelling to or already in Dubai to remain vigilant after neighbouring country Iran's airstrike on Israel this past weekend. The government authority gave similar warnings to 15 other nations asking to monitor its own advice and the media amid the fast-changing situation.

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