UAE Expects Beneficial Rainfall as Weather Authorities Dismiss El Nino Flood Rumors

The UAE faces no imminent severe weather threat from El Nino, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), although the phenomenon can bring above-average rainfall to the region. The NCM noted that El Nino's impact on the Emirates is indirect, with its primary effects concentrated directly in the Pacific Ocean, dismissing recent claims circulating on social media regarding severe floods and unusually heavy rainfall in the UAE.

While the weather department acknowledged that El Nino is particularly strong this year, it emphasized that the pattern can also indicate beneficial rainfall for the country. Rainfall could occasionally become heavy when favourable weather conditions develop, the Centre added.

Reassuring residents, the NCM stated that the weather in the UAE remains stable and is under continuous, round-the-clock monitoring. Any significant weather event will be announced in advance through the Centre’s official channels, accompanied by the necessary reports and warnings. The department strongly urged the public and media outlets to verify weather information before sharing it, emphasizing the importance of relying exclusively on official sources rather than rumors.

Earlier, in July, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) announced that El Nino had developed in the tropical Pacific and was forecast to strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events globally. In response, the WMO established coordination, climate information services, and early warning support to help governments, humanitarian agencies, vulnerable communities, and climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture and health prepare for potential impacts.

The monthly WMO Global Seasonal Climate Update revealed that a strong El Nino event was rapidly developing from July to September 2026. Multi-model ensemble forecasts from major global centres continue to show consistent and significant warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, with seasonal average sea-surface temperature anomalies predicted to exceed 2°C in some areas.