Schools and universities in Jeddah have moved to remote learning since last week as authorities warned people of heavy rain and advised everyone to remain indoors.
“Students have been studying from home since Thursday, since it flooded in our neighbourhood,” said Haifa Ali, a Saudi mother in Jeddah. “My car, that was parked outside, was submerged in water. Only our car in the garage is fine, but we are not going out until the weather improves.”
“We tied up an inflatable boat on top of our car and tried to help people in our neighbourhood on Friday,” Jeddah resident Faisal Omran told The National.
Flights to Jeddah were delayed last Thursday due to the weather.
“We have been teaching from home, which is much safer for staff and students as we can't risk young children being stuck in cars in case it rains a lot like last time,” said Fatima Mahmoud, a Saudi teacher in Jeddah. “It's been a great break from school to be honest and we don't have to be stressed about being stuck in traffic.”
Classes have so far been suspended in schools and universities in Jeddah, Rabigh, Madinah and Taif, ahead of heavy rain forecast on Wednesday.
Some parts of the city are submerged in water as officials are intensifying efforts to clean up. “Since the recent floods we have been working around the clock to ensure people get home safe,” a security official in Jeddah told The National.
“I was in the mall on Sunday when all the shops started closing down because of the rain around 7pm,” said Madiha Khalid, a Pakistani resident in Jeddah.
“I started to panic and waited for two hours before a driver could reach me to take me home.”
The National Centre of Meteorology announced that moderate and torrential thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, are expected to fall on parts of Asir, Baha, Makkah and Madinah regions, extending to some parts of Qassim, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders and Jawf regions later on Tuesday.
Thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, are possible in Riyadh, Jazan and the kingdom’s Eastern region, it said.
An advanced alert was issued for heavy rain in the Riyadh region until noon on Wednesday.
Snow is expected to fall in Tabuk, including Alaqan, Dhuhr and Jabal Al Lawz.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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THE SPECS
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Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
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