Heavy rains have hit the United Arab Emirates, flooding many locations in the country's largest city of Dubai and disrupting flights at the international airport.
Local weather officials said wide areas in the Middle East country, most of its land covered by desert, were lashed by torrential rain on Tuesday. The authorities said some places saw more than 250 millimeters of rain within 24 hours, more than twice the average annual amount of rainfall.
In Dubai, main roads were flooded, leaving cars unable to move. Some stores in shopping malls were reportedly inundated.
Flights were canceled or delayed at Dubai International Airport, a regional hub, including those flying between Dubai and Japan.
The rain has stopped, but authorities are urging people to refrain from making nonessential outings and to stay on the alert.