Dubai’s weather has been on a roller-coaster ride since morning, but the shift is being felt across the UAE, not just in the emirate. Grey skies, gusty winds and unstable conditions on December 18 prompted residents in Dubai and neighbouring areas to reassess daily routines, with safety concerns influencing decisions around work, travel and community care. While some residents made the most of the unusual weather with office breaks and social media updates, others opted for caution as conditions intensified.
As rainfall and strong winds picked up, several residents chose to work from home amid uncertainty over road conditions, traffic congestion and childcare arrangements. Traffic began building up in areas such as Tecom and JLT, particularly as commuters from Sharjah started leaving early to beat worsening congestion.
Sakina Tinwala, a resident of Al Barsha, shared images of her neighbourhood showing water accumulation within a short time. She said her family was advised to leave the workplace early and continue work from home. “The area flooded very quickly, and both of us were immediately alerted that we needed to be home in time to avoid any hassle,” she said.
Similar scenes were reported in JLT and Tecom, with commuters heading towards Sharjah facing slow-moving traffic. Ramya, who works in Cluster Y, JLT, said she left her office by 2pm to get ahead of worsening conditions. “Traffic towards Sharjah was already building up, so I decided to leave early,” she said. Many residents reported making early travel decisions as congestion in Sharjah and Ajman continued to intensify.
The National Centre of Meteorology warned that a major weather system would move through the UAE in several phases over the next two days, bringing periods of heavy rain, strong winds and possible hail. The first main wave was expected to affect Abu Dhabi and Dubai after midnight, with unstable conditions forecast to continue into Friday, December 19, 2025.
Similarly, the situation in Sharjah has worsened, with several streets in the Musalla area flooded after heavy rainfall. Water accumulation has made roads difficult to navigate, disrupting traffic and daily movement as residents deal with the impact of the unstable weather conditions.
Beyond personal safety measures, some residents also took steps to protect vulnerable animals in their communities. Ahram Sharma, who oversees residents’ vehicles and building protocols in Sharjah, said he placed food around the building to ensure stray cats had access to nourishment and were not left vulnerable during the harsh weather conditions.
