Saudi shivers, Dubai drowns in freak Gulf weather

DUBAI (Reuters) - People across the Gulf faced torrential downpours on Tuesday, and may soon see a rare snowfall, in a region which traditionally holds prayers to ask for rain.

In the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, residents said the temperature had fallen to below freezing level -- increasing chances that it might snow, an event Saudis usually only see on television or during travels overseas.

In the neighboring United Arab Emirates, where shops usually do not even sell heaters, snow had been reported earlier in mountainous areas and relentless rain took the country by surprise over the past two days.

Arriving for a visit on Sunday, President George W. Bush carried an umbrella to face the rain at the airport in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's usually hot and sunny capital.

Many roads were flooded in the emirate of Dubai, which attracts sun-hungry tourists with its year-round blue skies. Roofs in some luxury hotels and office blocks were leaking water and several schools asked parents to keep their children home on Wednesday.

Weather forecasts show that more rain is expected in many parts of the region until the end of the week.

In June, Oman was hit by a cyclone that killed more than 50 people and wrecked havoc in the country, damaging infrastructure and displacing thousands.

(Reporting by Inal Ersan; Editing by Caroline Drees)

((Gulf newsroom, dubai.newsroom@reuters.com)