At least 870 people were rescued by emergency teams after flash floods in the UAE's Northern Emirates, the government said.
In total, 3,897 people were placed in temporary shelter in Sharjah and Fujairah and will remain there until their homes are deemed safe for them to return.
The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema) said 20 hotels in those areas have the capacity to house an additional 1,885 people, if needed.
Weather officials said the deluge on Wednesday contributed to this month being the wettest July in more than 30 years.
It is expected that the depression will continue to exist in the west of the country and will gradually weaken during the evening and night [on Thursday]
National Centre of Meteorology
More than 50 buses have been mobilised over the past 24 hours to carry people to safety and more than 100 volunteers have been working to help residents and clean up debris and pools of water left by the heavy rainfall.
Officials assured the public that emergency and clean-up teams are working around the clock to help those in the most flood-affected areas.
No deaths or casualties were reported.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, instructed the ERC and its centres across the country to provide all forms of logistical and field support to Emirati teams supporting those affected by the rain, in addition to putting the authority’s workers and volunteers on standby.
He also directed the authority’s teams to be placed under the command of the competent authorities, assess the situation on ground and develop plans for evacuation, shelter and psychological support, as well as provide the humanitarian needs of the affected people whenever necessary.
ERC field teams have been present since Wednesday in the affected areas in the Northern Emirates to provide the necessary support and assistance.
The ERC's emergency room is closely monitoring the weather situation and in constant contact with the concerned authorities in this regard.
A spokesman for the NCM said the adverse weather was caused by a bout of upper and surface air depression from northern India through southern Pakistan heading towards the UAE, which resulted in the formation of heavy rain clouds.
“It is expected that the depression will continue to exist in the west of the country and will gradually weaken during the evening and night [on Thursday], with the continuation of the chance of some rain clouds forming over some eastern and western regions of the country,” he said.
“In general, the situation has weakened since yesterday.”
There were 20 weather warnings issued between July 23 and today, including 70 alerts on social media.
Brig Gen Dr Ali Al Tunaiji, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, urged the public to closely monitor the NCM weather alerts and abide by warnings sent out by the authorities.
He commended the efforts of those involved in the rescue and clean-up operations.
On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, inspected the areas affected by the heavy rains in the emirate.
During the inspection tour, he stressed that efforts will continue and all resources will be allocated to deal with the current situation.
Over the past few days, parts of the UAE have already received more than twice the country's typical annual rainfall.
The highest rainfall was recorded at a National Centre of Meteorology rain gauge in Fujairah Port where 234.9mm of rain fell from 10:30pm on July 25 to 9.18am on Thursday.
The second highest was Masafi — 209.7mm — with the third highest recorded in Fujairah Airport with 187.9mm.
Late on Wednesday, the government said non-essential public and private sector workers in flood-affected areas, including Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, could work from home on Thursday and Friday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also called on nearby hotels to provide temporary accommodation for people displaced from their homes by the adverse weather. A report is being drawn up to assess the damage caused by the floods so that work can commence to protect people and property in the Emirates.
Per the latest weather report, things are expected to ease slightly on Friday, although there will be a chance of rain over some areas of the country.
"Partly cloudy in general with another increase in temperatures and the probability of some convective cloud formation over some eastern areas, which may extend over internal areas during daytime," the NCM bulletin said.
"Expect light to moderate south-easterly to north-easterly winds, freshening at times causing blowing dust and sand, with a speed of 15–25km per hour.
"The sea will be rough to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and moderate to slight in the Oman Sea."
The specs
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Hili 2: Unesco World Heritage site
The site is part of the Hili archaeological park in Al Ain. Excavations there have proved the existence of the earliest known agricultural communities in modern-day UAE. Some date to the Bronze Age but Hili 2 is an Iron Age site. The Iron Age witnessed the development of the falaj, a network of channels that funnelled water from natural springs in the area. Wells allowed settlements to be established, but falaj meant they could grow and thrive. Unesco, the UN's cultural body, awarded Al Ain's sites - including Hili 2 - world heritage status in 2011. Now the most recent dig at the site has revealed even more about the skilled people that lived and worked there.
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Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Business Insights
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Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
