Dubai-style floods hit Saudi Arabian provinces, heavy rain in holy city of Madinah

Floods and heavy rain have hit northern parts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, forcing road closures and schools to cancel in-person attendance amid travel warnings issued by the Gulf nation's meteorological authorities. 

Footage reported by outlets like Sky News and others circulating on social media shows flash floods on Monday in the provinces of Al-Ula and Al-Madinah, home to Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, Islam's second holiest site and burial place of the Prophet Muhammad. 

Footage shared on social media showed heavy rain near the mosque.

This comes days after flash floods hit neighbouring UAE and Oman to the southeast, rare events this time of the year blamed partly on climate change.

In November 2022, Saudi Arabia was hit by coastal flooding as a result of heavy rain, hitting hard the city of Jeddah in which two people were killed.

The floods in Jeddah are a recurrent problem linked to the lack of rain draingage.

Many cities in the Gulf nations were built without adequate storm drainage systems as urban planners in the 20th century did not anticipate dramatic changes in the usually arid terrain of the Arabian Peninsula.

According to Saudi media reports, authorities are currently assessing the situation in affected areas.

The Civil Defense Directorate urged residents to exercise caution and avoid valleys and waterways. They advise against crossing or entering these areas, and for drivers to be particularly vigilant on rural roads. 

The Saudi National Center for Meteorology (NCM) issued a red alert for the Al-Madinah region earlier on Monday, forecasting heavy rain and thunderstorms. The alert specifically covered Al-Ula from midday until 11 pm.

The NCM predicts heavy rainfall during this period, accompanied by strong winds, reduced visibility, hailstorms, and potential flash floods.