Dozens of flights to and from Dubai’s international airport have been cancelled or delayed today due to ongoing disruption caused by heavy rainfall.

Videos posted on social media show how the airport’s taxiways were turned into rivers by yesterday afternoon after more than five inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours.

Dubai’s major highways, including roads to the airport, also became impassable.

Emirates has suspended check in for all flights departing from Dubai International from 8am today until midnight.

It said this was due to ‘operational challenges caused by bad weather and road conditions’.

It said passengers already at the airport or in transit would continue to be processed, adding that customers should expect delays to departures and arrivals.

This morning’s British Airways flight from London has been diverted to Abu Dhabi while an Emirates flight from London has been delayed by at least three hours. 

In nearby Oman, at least 18 people have been killed in flash flooding caused by the heavy rainfall, including 10 schoolchildren whose bus was swept away.