Outdated Video Clips of Floods Shared in Relation to the Recent Flood in Dubai
The Claim
Video clips show the recent floods in Dubai.
News posted on
Emerging story
Amid the recent floods in Dubai, social media users circulated a video compilation purporting to show clips of the floods in the city. The video shows a deluge transforming a highway into a torrential river, causing extensive vehicle damage.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating footage and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s investigative team found the circulating video compilation to be outdated and unrelated to the recent floods in Dubai.
Outdated Video Clips Shared as Recent Floods in Dubai
Misbar’s investigative team searched for the six clips that were displayed in the circulating footage and found them to be older than claimed.
The six video clips originated from different previous floods in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
The first clip was first uploaded to TikTok on January 31, 2024. The video’s caption indicates that the footage was filmed in Saudi Arabia.
The second clip in the circulating video is also outdated. The video’s source dates back to March 2, 2024, and it features floods that occurred in Saudi Arabia.
The third video in order shows Saudi Arabia's floods, and the clip was released on January 31, 2024, on the TikTok platform.
The fourth and fifth shots in the circulating footage in sequence show floods in Dubai. The original publisher uploaded the video on TikTok on November 29, 2023.
The last clip is also outdated, and it features floods in Saudi Arabia. The video was uploaded to TikTok on November 11, 2023.
Dubai’s Recent Flooding: The Heaviest Rainfall in 75 Years
Dubai plunged into chaos as the United Arab Emirates experienced its most substantial rainfall in 75 years, with certain areas receiving over 250 mm of rainfall within a day, as per an announcement from the state's media office on Wednesday.
The downpour, which inundated streets, toppled palm trees, and caused structural damage to buildings, marks an unprecedented event in the country’s meteorological history since record-keeping began in 1949. The torrential rain disrupted air travel, paralyzed traffic, and prompted school closures.
The intensity and rapidity of the rainfall led some drivers to abandon their vehicles as floodwaters surged, turning roads into waterways.
Meanwhile, in Oman, heavy rain triggered flash floods that claimed at least 18 lives, including schoolchildren, according to reports from the country's National Committee for Emergency Management and state news agency.
Read More
This Video Features 2016 Floods in Saudi Arabia, Not Libya’s Recent Floods
