Thunder and showers ushered in Wednesday morning for UAE residents as Abu Dhabi got a brief taste of rainfall.
Showers fell across the capital from Khalidiya to Mushrif, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said.
Thunder could also be heard across the city and forecasters said more could be on the way.
The NCM said Dibba on the east coast experienced particularly heavy rain.
Footage posted on social media by the NCM and Storm Centre, a popular UAE channel that tracks extreme weather, showed water surging across roads, streams cascading down valleys and even temporary waterfalls being created.
Other videos showed rain lashing date groves, cars slowing down under torrential downpours and dams filling up.
Abu Dhabi Police warned motorists to drive cautiously in the conditions. "Abu Dhabi Police call on motorists to exercise caution due to the rainy weather and to follow the changing speed limits displayed on electronic information boards," the force posted on social media.
Major downpours did not reach the coastal cities, but the NCM gave a warning of more rain across the country on Thursday and Friday, accompanied by a “significant decrease in temperatures”.
It also gave a warning about dust clouds that could cut visibility on the road.
The NCM on Sunday forecast rain to hit the UAE from Wednesday and that the showers could continue into the weekend.
The downpours came after several days of heavy rain in eastern and western parts of the country.
Fujairah was particularly hit from Al Hail to Murbah.
The rain followed a particularly mild winter with periods of prolonged sun.
The UAE recorded only 1.2 millimetres of rain in the first three months of the year.
Rain hits Fujairah – in pictures
