Residents and business owners are facing up to significant damage to property and financial losses in the wake of the storm that swept through large parts of the UAE this week.
Most of the country was lashed by torrential rain and thunderstorms throughout Tuesday, with the weather only improving later on Wednesday.
The heavy rain triggered severe floods that resulted in several roads being blocked and forced the cancellation of numerous flights due to overflowing water.
One businessman in Sharjah estimated his losses as in excess of Dh1.7 million.
“The water just kept rising, and despite all my efforts with barriers and sandbags, it surged over the sidewalk and shattered our store's glass facade,” said Abdel Fattah Mahmoud, from Jordan, owner of Dandana Musical Instruments Establishment.
His store and warehouse, established in 1996, were flooded, with the water destroying hundreds of valuable musical instruments.
He described the chaos as rainwater mixed with sewage spread through his store, ruining prized instruments including 100 pianos with a combined value of Dh700,000.
"I called every possible number, trying to reach the municipality through landlines, WhatsApp, and toll-free numbers, but either no one answered or the lines were busy," he told The National.
Mr Mahmoud tried to hire private tankers to help clear the flooding but that also failed as they were restricted from entering the flood-hit area.
He said that with 28 years in the business, his store has been a significant supplier to schools and ministries throughout the UAE.
“But the disaster jeopardises my ability to fulfil several ongoing contracts," he said.
“I have commitments that I can't meet now, and without liquid funds to purchase new stock, I’m in a tough position."
He also spoke of his attempts to find insurance against this kind of damage being frustrated.
“Every year, I've tried to insure against such disasters, but the companies always tell me they don't offer such policies,” he said.
Mr Mahmoud also highlighted the persistent problem of passing vehicles pushing more water into shops even after the rain stopped.
“It’s an ongoing battle," he said.
Another owner of a musical instrument shop in Al Khan also suffered significant losses due to the storm.
“The water was nearly 60cm deep inside my shop and over a metre outside,” said Wagdy Wadee, owner of Al Fan Al Raqi musical instrument shop.
He shared a video of the flooded shop on social media.
The Egyptian man, who moved his business from Egypt to Sharjah just a year ago, described how the flood waters forced his shop's door open and caused extensive damage.
“I lost many invoices, documents, and valuable instruments like guitars and ouds, potentially amounting to Dh80,000," he said.
He had attempted preventive measures using sand and wooden bars, but that didn’t work.
“The force of the water broke through the glass doors. Thankfully, the neighbouring shops were empty, preventing further losses," he said.
Other residents reported damage to their homes and apartments.
Counting the damage
Salma Om Emad, an Algerian who has been resident in the UAE since 2012 and lives in Al Qasimiya, Sharjah, told The National about the ordeal her family faced when their two-bedroom apartment on King Faisal Street was inundated with water.
“It was a disaster,” she said.
“Water was flooding in from the windows and seeping through the edges of the walls.
"I called the security, but they directed me to the real estate office, which hasn’t responded to any of my calls.”
The mother of two teenagers expressed fears about the building's structural integrity.
“I had to have my children sleep in the living room because the walls felt like they could collapse at any moment,” she said.
Concerned for their safety, she turned off the electricity to prevent any potential short circuits.
“I’ve complained before about how the building looks good from the outside but feels fragile inside.”
“Even hanging curtains is a challenge because the walls can't support the weight,” she said.
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
India squads
T20: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, Deepak Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Test: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
Who is Tim-Berners Lee?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 - the world's first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
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The%20specs
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Twin-turbocharged%204-litre%20V8%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20625%20bhp%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20630Nm%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh974%2C011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Zayed Sustainability Prize
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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