Dubai International hit by rainstorm: flights canceled, operations briefly suspended, Metro extended to 3am

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Dubai Airports said in an advisory on its official X account that operations at DXB were temporarily suspended for 25 minutes on Saturday morning because of unstable weather, before resuming. Roads leading to the airport were waterlogged, and the unstable weather was forecast to continue into Sunday morning. Nine departing flights and eight arriving flights were canceled in the morning, and three flights were diverted to other airports; other flights were delayed.

The airport urged passengers to allow extra travel time and to use the Metro whenever possible. Metro operating hours were extended until 3am to help clear the backlog. Passengers were advised to check flight status with their airlines before traveling.

The UAE's National Centre of Meteorology forecast a chance of rain in some eastern areas on Sunday afternoon as convective clouds develop, with rising humidity overnight and a chance of fog or mist in coastal and inland areas. Winds of 10 to 25 km/h could reach 50 km/h at times. Saturday's national high was 41.6°C in Sweihan, Al Ain; Sunday's forecast highs are 35°C in Dubai and 38°C in Sharjah, with lows of 27°C.

Separately, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority warned on Saturday that seasonal weather and reduced visibility could cause limited flight delays — a weather-related advisory, distinct from the cancellations on Saudi Arabia routes linked to the regional situation.