Residents across the northern emirates awoke to significant disruption on Thursday, December 18th, 2025, following a night of intense thunderstorms that brought torrential rain, hail, and powerful winds. The severe weather event, part of a broader low-pressure system affecting the Middle East, caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure, particularly in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and Umm Al Quwain.
In RAK, the relentless downpour resulted in residential flooding, with water seeping into homes through doors and windows. The true extent of the damage became apparent at daybreak, revealing vehicles damaged by falling tree branches and debris. Public pathways and parking areas were partially obstructed, littered with broken branches and washed-down refuse. Local authorities had proactively issued mobile phone alerts warning residents of the deteriorating conditions, advising caution around newly formed ponds and streams.
Social media platforms and weather accounts, including Storm.ae, documented the event with visuals of hailstones and extensive waterlogging on roads. The impact extended beyond property damage, hindering daily commutes and forcing the temporary closure of some businesses in low-lying commercial areas where water had infiltrated shops.
While the northern regions bore the brunt of the storm, residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reported comparatively milder conditions, experiencing only cloudy skies and light drizzle. UAE weather officials have forecast that the unstable conditions are expected to persist, with a potential intensification of thunderstorms continuing through Friday. The event has highlighted community resilience and the operational challenges posed by sudden extreme weather in the region.