From Kerala clouds to desert skies, expats in the UAE track rare summer downpours for a taste of home
For Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, the monsoon isn’t just a season—it’s an emotion. Missing the familiar rhythm of seasonal showers, Muhammed Sajjad, a 35-year-old from Kerala, turned his longing into action by becoming an amateur desert weatherman. Today, he leads a passionate group of rain-seekers, harnessing technology and nostalgia to chase rainfall in the arid heart of the UAE, reported moneycontrol.com.
Sajjad, who moved to the UAE in 2015, recalls landing in Sharjah at the peak of Kerala’s monsoon. The contrast between India’s lush downpours and the desert’s dry expanse hit him hard. That longing inspired a new pursuit: rain-chasing.
“I discovered that summer rain is possible here,” he told AFP. “So I started chasing it—to enjoy the rain again.”
Today, his Instagram page, @UAE_Weatherman, has over 130,000 followers, many of whom join him for weekend rain-hunting trips. Each week, Sajjad posts forecasts and proposed meetup locations based on satellite predictions and local weather data. Recently, a convoy of 100 cars followed him deep into the desert—on the chance that they might catch a downpour.
“It may happen, it may not,” he said. “But when it does, it is an amazing moment.”
Using satellite tools and weather data, Indian expat Muhammed Sajjad and his 130,000-strong online community track fleeting rain in the UAE, reviving monsoon memories in the desert
And it was—just as the group reached the spot, rain fell. Faces lit up. People danced in the drizzle, eyes closed, soaking in the rare gift.
“They feel nostalgic,” Sajjad said. “It takes them home.”
With over 3.5 million Indians living in the UAE—its largest expatriate group—this longing is deeply shared. The country receives only 50 to 100 mm of rain annually, most of it in brief winter storms. Summer rain is rare, with some areas getting less than 5 mm, according to climate scientist Diana Francis of Khalifa University.
Francis also noted that while overall rainfall remains low, extreme weather events have become more frequent due to climate change. Last year, record-breaking April rains brought 259.5 mm in a single day—UAE’s highest in 75 years—causing widespread flooding in Dubai and claiming four lives.
By contrast, April 2025 was the UAE’s hottest on record, and summer rains remain elusive for most. That’s why expats like Anagha, another rain-seeker on Sajjad’s convoy, cherish any glimpse of a cloudburst.
“All of my family and friends are enjoying rain back home, while we live under the hot sun,” she said. “This time, the rain came to us in the desert—and we made sure to enjoy it.”
