Dubai gets its rain between November and April, and it rarely arrives gently. A few heavy bursts a season, sometimes a full day of it, on a villa that has been dry since spring. The water finds the blocked drain, the gap under the garage door and the cushion left out on the terrace.
Ten minutes of checks before the first shower saves most of the trouble. Here is the list, and the clean-up order afterwards.
Before the rain: ten minutes
- Clear the patio drains. Lift the grille and pull out the leaves and sand. A blocked drain is how a patio becomes a pool and the water reaches the sliding doors.
- Check the roof and balcony drains. Rooftop and balcony outlets fill with sand and bougainvillea over the summer. If water cannot leave the roof, it finds another way down.
- Bring the cushions in. Outdoor fabric is tough, but a cushion soaked through holds water in the foam for days and that is where the smell starts.
- Get electrical items off the terrace. Extension leads, fairy lights, the outdoor speaker. Anything plugged in outside should be unplugged and brought in.
- Check the mosquito nets. Rain leaves standing water, and mosquitoes follow within days. A five-minute check now, in our mosquito net guide, means every window is sealed when they arrive.
- Look at the garage door seal. A worn seal lets water across the garage floor. Lift anything stored on the floor onto a shelf.
- Put the car under cover. Sand carried by rain dries into streaks that are hard to shift.
What rain actually does to a villa
Rain here is not clean water. It brings down the dust in the air and lands as muddy drops. On glass it dries into spots and streaks. On the patio it leaves a film of sand and silt that sets hard if it dries in the sun. In shaded corners near the pool it starts green algae, and in a closed-up house after a humid week it starts mould on the back of wardrobes and in the bathrooms.
None of it is serious if it is dealt with in the first few days.
After the rain: the clean-up order
1. Patio, paths and driveway first. Wash the silt and sand off before it dries in. Pressure washing by our outdoor crew does this properly, and it is priced on the area and the surfaces through our patio, garden and pergola cleaning. Shaded pool surrounds and north-facing paths go slippery with algae, so those come first.
2. Glass last, and rinse, do not wipe. Rain-spotted glass wiped with a cloth turns the dust into a smear. Pure-water window cleaning rinses the dirt off and dries spotless. If we cleaned your windows in the seven days before the rain, our 7-Day Rain Guarantee means we come back and do them again, free.
3. The garage. If water came in, the floor needs washing before the dust settles on the damp patches. Our garage cleaning covers the floor, the stains and the walls.
4. Air the house, then check for mould. Open the doors on the first dry day. Then look at the back of wardrobes on outside walls, bathroom ceilings and the grout. A deep clean deals with mould properly where it has taken hold.
5. The water tank. Heavy rain can get into a rooftop tank with a loose lid. Check the lid is seated and sealed. If you are due a tank clean, the weeks after the first rain are a good time. Our water tank cleaning is quoted on the tank size and access.
6. Outdoor cushions and rugs. Anything that got wet wants drying fully before it goes back. If it was out through a whole storm, our guide on cleaning outdoor cushions and rugs explains what helps.
One visit, in the right order
Most of the after-rain work is outdoor cleaning plus the glass, which is one visit for our teams: the outdoor crew does the hard surfaces, then the windows are done last so nothing splashes them. Send a photo of the patio and the front of the house on WhatsApp and we come back with a firm price the same day, VAT included.
Frequently asked questions
When is the rain season in Dubai?
Roughly November to April, with most of it in a few heavy bursts rather than regular showers. The first rain usually arrives on a villa that has been dry for seven months, which is why the checks matter.
What should I do to my villa before it rains?
Clear the patio, roof and balcony drains, bring the outdoor cushions in, unplug and remove anything electrical from the terrace, check the mosquito nets and the garage door seal, and put the car under cover.
How do I clean windows after rain in Dubai?
Rinse, do not wipe. Rain leaves dust on the glass, and a cloth smears it. Pure-water window cleaning rinses it off and dries without marks. If we cleaned your windows within the seven days before the rain, the 7-Day Rain Guarantee covers a free re-clean.
Does rain in Dubai leave the patio dirty?
Yes. The rain carries dust down and leaves a film of sand and silt that sets hard once it dries in the sun, and shaded corners near the pool start to grow algae. Washing it off in the first few days is much easier than later.
Can rain get into my water tank?
A rooftop tank with a loose or damaged lid can take in rainwater and debris. Check the lid is seated after heavy rain, and have the tank cleaned if it has been more than six months.
Why does my house smell damp after the rain?
Humid days with the doors shut let moisture sit in closed rooms, the back of wardrobes and the bathrooms. Air the house on the first dry day and check those spots for mould. A deep clean handles it if it has taken hold.
