UAE weather: Foggy start prompts police to cut speed limits

Visibility down to less than one kilometre in parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Fog along the E11 Highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Thick fog blanketed parts of the country on Thursday morning, leading police in Abu Dhabi to reduce speed limits on several motorways.

Forecasters issued a warning about the murky weather, which affected large parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, after visibility dropped to less than one kilometre in affected areas.

Dubai residents also woke to a damp and misty morning.

Police told motorists to drive especially carefully, as they cut the speed limit to 80 kilometres an hour on four motorways — including a stretch of the Abu Dhabi to Al Ain road.

The fog is expected to lift by 9am, leaving a hot and sunny day, with temperatures reaching up to 40°C in the interior.

It will be cooler on the coast, where the mercury will hit 35°C in Abu Dhabi city and Dubai.

Winds will be light to moderate, picking up at times, and both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will be calm.

Humidity will return overnight.

Light to moderate winds will pick up at times on Friday, blowing dust. Temperatures will be in the mid-30s on the coast.

It will be hotter over the weekend, when the mercury will hit the high 30s in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Light to moderate winds will strengthen at times, blowing dust.