A year’s worth of rain that fell in just 12 hours caused huge floods in dubai on Tuesday as roads turned into rivers and rushing waters flooded homes and businesses.

Shocking footage has shown the runway at Dubai International Airport – recently crowned the world’s second busiest airport – covered in water and the huge jetliners turned…underwater.

The airport was shut down for almost half an hour on Tuesday. “Operations continue to be significantly disrupted,” the airport confirmed in a statement. “There is major flooding on access roads around Dubai leading to the airport.”

Nearly 4 inches (100 mm) of rain fell in just 12 hours on Tuesday, according to weather observatories at the airport – about as much as Dubai gets in an entire year, according to United Nations figures.

The rain came down so hard and so fast that some drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles as floodwaters rose and roads turned into rivers.

Video on social media showed water rushing through a shopping center in the area and flooding the ground floor of houses.

The iconic malls Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates were flooded, according to images posted on social media.

Lightning was seen flashing across the sky, occasionally touching the edge of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

The United Arab Emirates government media office posted on X’s account that the rainfall was an “extraordinary” climate event. More rain is expected.

As stated by Guardian vSchools across the UAE are expected to remain closed on Wednesday, while the Dubai government has also extended remote working for workers.