Torrential rain across the United Arab Emirates caused widespread flooding around the desert country, prompting Dubai’s major international airport to divert scores of incoming flights on Tuesday, April 16. The rain also forced Dubai International Airport to suspend operations for 25 minutes, schools to shut and brought traffic to a standstill

The website for Dubai airport, one of the world’s busiest, shows dozens of flights on April 16 delayed or cancelled, with affected destinations including India, Pakistan, Saudi and the United Kingdom.

Earlier the Dubai airport, which had been expecting more than 100 flight arrivals on Tuesday evening, took the equally unusual step of briefly halting its operations in the chaos caused by the storm.

Departure flights remained in operation during the evening but were plagued with delays and cancellations. Access roads to the airport were also badly flooded.