Schools were ordered shut, flights suspended and the stock market was closed down in the United Arab Emirates as rare heavy rain hit the desert Gulf state on Wednesday. Education authorities said schools will stay closed Thursday as more thundery weather is forecast. Flights at Abu Dhabi airport resumed on Wednesday afternoon after being suspended for several hours, and Dubai International also experienced delays, aviation authorities said.

The weather agency in the UAE, which ranks among the world's 10 driest countries, said more rain is expected on Thursday.

The country's annual rainfall stands at 78 millimetres (three inches), more than 15 times less than the amount for an average year in Britain.

But the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology said some 240 millimetres of rainfall was recorded Wednesday near Al-Ain.