As sheets of rain reduced visibility on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Airports took the unusual step of broadcasting a public travel warning on 19 December. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) and local media, the operator said “flight delays and cancellations are possible” and urged passengers to allow additional transit time or use the Metro because water pooling on access roads was slowing traffic.
The alert follows several hours of stop-and-go runway operations triggered by lightning and micro-bursts over DXB. Ground-handling crews have been rotated in shorter shifts to avoid working in dangerous conditions, further stretching manpower. Airlines have introduced on-board catering cut-backs to save turnaround minutes and preserve slot times.
![DXB issues rare weather advisory, tells passengers to leave extra time]()
Should last-minute itinerary changes force passengers to adjust entry dates or route through alternative hubs, specialist agencies such as VisaHQ can streamline the visa side of the equation. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers real-time eligibility checks, electronic application filing and courier pickup, helping travellers secure or amend documentation even while schedules remain in flux.
Logistics planners should note that freight forwarders operating out of DXB’s Cargo Village have implemented ‘red-advice’ protocols. Drivers now require SMS clearance before entering flooded dock areas, a process that can add 60–90 minutes to collection windows. Express operators report backlogs in the import sort, with some next-flight-out (NFO) products being downgraded to deferred services until at least Saturday morning.
For travellers the practical guidance is clear: check in online, aim to arrive at Terminal 3 a minimum of four hours before departure, and consider the Metro to avoid water-logged roads. Those with tight connections should contact their airline now to explore voluntary re-routing via Abu Dhabi or Doha until the storm system passes.
The alert follows several hours of stop-and-go runway operations triggered by lightning and micro-bursts over DXB. Ground-handling crews have been rotated in shorter shifts to avoid working in dangerous conditions, further stretching manpower. Airlines have introduced on-board catering cut-backs to save turnaround minutes and preserve slot times.
Should last-minute itinerary changes force passengers to adjust entry dates or route through alternative hubs, specialist agencies such as VisaHQ can streamline the visa side of the equation. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers real-time eligibility checks, electronic application filing and courier pickup, helping travellers secure or amend documentation even while schedules remain in flux.
Logistics planners should note that freight forwarders operating out of DXB’s Cargo Village have implemented ‘red-advice’ protocols. Drivers now require SMS clearance before entering flooded dock areas, a process that can add 60–90 minutes to collection windows. Express operators report backlogs in the import sort, with some next-flight-out (NFO) products being downgraded to deferred services until at least Saturday morning.
For travellers the practical guidance is clear: check in online, aim to arrive at Terminal 3 a minimum of four hours before departure, and consider the Metro to avoid water-logged roads. Those with tight connections should contact their airline now to explore voluntary re-routing via Abu Dhabi or Doha until the storm system passes.
