Dubai airport was flooded in a record downpour that killed one and disrupted travel through the world’s busiest airfield for international travel.

Emirates airline suspended check-in for passengers departing from Dubai airport after a record rainfall of 254mm fell in Al Ain on Tuesday in less than 24 hours, according to the national metrology centre. It was the most rainfall since records began in 1949, before the country was established in 1971.

Local media reported that an elderly Emirati man in his 70s died on Tuesday morning when his vehicle was caught in flash floods in the Ras Al Khaimah emirate, in the country’s north.

In neighbouring Oman, 19 people died, including school children after three consecutive days of heavy rain, according to Omani media.

Although heavy rains had eased by late Tuesday, disruption is expected to continue.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international hub measured by passenger traffic, said it was facing significant disruptions after the heavy rains delayed or diverted flights and had impacted flight crews.

The airport wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “We are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions.” It advised passengers against heading to the airport and to check their flight status with their airline.

Emirates said passengers who were already in transit would continue to be processed but warned that delays to departures and arrivals should be expected.

The government has ordered its employees and all schools to work remotely for a second consecutive day.

UAE media and social media posts showed significant damage from the torrential downpour in some parts of the country, including collapsed roads and homes inundated by water.

Social media posts on Tuesday showed flooded roads and car parks with some vehicles completely submerged. Sheikh Zayed Road, a 12-lane highway through Dubai, was partially flooded, leaving people stuck in a kilometres-long traffic jam for hours.

Flagship shopping centres Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates also both suffered flooding, at least one Dubai Metro station had ankle-deep water.