Every drop a blessing on desert terrain

A family standing in the rain as they chase infrequent rain showers in Fujairah, UAE. (Below) The vast desert stretch of the Arabian peninsula, known as the Empty Quarter, which includes parts of the UAE, has a weather pattern that keeps the clouds out. — AP

OUTSIDE of a mountain village in the northern outskirts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), clouds on a recent weekend suddenly crowded out the white-hot sun that bakes this desert nation in the summer months.

Fierce winds blew over planters and pushed a dumpster down the street. And then came the most infrequent visitor of all: rain.