Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), has delayed one of its flights from Dubai to Casablanca due to Dubai’s recent inclement weather, the company announced on “X” (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
“Due to bad weather in Dubai, we were forced to postpone flight AT247 from April 16, 2024, from Dubai (DXB) to Casablanca (CMN), to April 17, 2024,” RAM tweeted. “The new departure times will be communicated later by email and/or SMS.”
RAM apologized for any inconvenience caused by the delay on April 16, 2024, and invited passengers to check the status of their flight and verify and update their contact details on the “Manage My Reservation” section appearing on the RAM website.
Excessive rainfall in the Gulf States has led to flash floods, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals and causing disruptions at the world’s second-busiest airport. Dubai Airport described the situation as “extremely difficult” on Wednesday, urging passengers not to travel to the airport, as water ponding occurred on the runways.
In Dubai’s city center, numerous vehicles were submerged in a section of Sheikh Zayed Road, leading to extensive traffic congestion on the twelve-lane highway. Social media videos depicted airplanes navigating harrowingly through flooded aprons and taxiways at the airport.
Emirates, the UAE’s major international carrier, halted check-in services for all flights until midnight, while FlyDubai announced that some departing flights would operate from a single terminal after 8:00 P.M.
According to the BBC, the National Emergency Crisis Management Authority in the UAE had previously advised residents to stay indoors before the storm hit, prompting the government and private schools to implement remote work and learning arrangements.
In Oman, over 1,400 individuals have been relocated to shelters, with schools and government offices closed as a preventive measure. Certain regions in Oman received significant rainfall amounts, with two areas in the north having recorded 180 mm–well over a year’s worth of rainfall for the region–since Sunday, and eight other areas having received over 120 mm, according to the National Committee of Emergency Management.