UAE weather: sandstorm blankets Abu Dhabi city

Flights remain unaffected by the conditions

A dusty, hazy day at Dubai Creek. The UAE has been in the grip of sand and dust storms since Tuesday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The hot and dusty conditions witnessed at Dubai Creek will persist for the next few days, with the National Centre of Meteorology warning of blowing sand and dust until Sunday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Official weather stations have been registering hazardous air quality in many areas such as Dubai's Global Village (pictured), with the scale reaching as high as 684 near Al Ain on Thursday morning. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai Creek has fared not as badly as other areas in the Gulf when it has come to the dust and sand storms affecting the region. Extraordinarily high levels of dust and pollutants have been a particular problem in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque viewed through a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Winds reached speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. Victor Besa / The National

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is almost hidden by the dust. Visibility was down to a few hundred metres in the capital. Victor Besa / The National

Jumeirah Lake Towers loom out of the haze in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

The Kingdom Centre skyscraper in the centre of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh during the sandstorm on May 17. AFP

The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. AFP

Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Meteorology issued alerts for large areas, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province. AFP

A haze of dust covers Riyadh's skyline. AFP

Dust storms created hazardous conditions for drivers in Kuwait City, Kuwait, where winds reached 50kph. EPA

A pedestrian waits to cross a road in Kuwait City, as orange-red dust shrouds the city. AFP

Pedestrians wait for a bus in Kuwait City. Kuwait's Ministry of Interior urged the public to exercise caution as the dust severely reduced visibility. AFP

Motorists caught in the sandstorm in Kuwait City. Schools were closed for the day, due to the weather conditions. AFP

Towers in Dubai Marina silhouetted during the dust storm. Pawan Singh / The National

Burj Al Arab hotel during the hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Beachgoers view a hazy skyline at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The conditions appear to be the tail of a storm that covered Iraq. Pawan Singh / The National

Traffic on a highway in the Seef district, in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP

Heavy dust reduces visibility on a road in Manama. AFP

The dhow harbour and the spiral minaret at the mosque of the Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre, in Qatar's capital Doha. AFP

A view of the haze obscuring the skyline of Qatar's capital Doha during a heavy dust storm. AFP

A man uses a scarf and sunglasses to keep the worst of the dust at bay in Doha, Qatar. AFP

Dust severely restricts visibility in the city of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A dusty view of buildings on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A cleaner in the Marina mall area along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Qasr Al Watan through a haze of sand and dust in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Sand and dust storm in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Hazy conditions as a sand storm hits Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dust storm in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Sand and dust storm in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Abras on Dubai creek during the dusty weather. Pawan Singh / The National

The Museum of the Future during the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Latest: UAE weather alert issued as sandstorms to hit on Wednesday

A sandstorm swept across the UAE on Tuesday, reducing visibility to a few hundred metres in some areas.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said north-westerly winds of up to 40 kilometres an hour were blowing dust and sand and these conditions were expected to continue.

Residents shared photographs and videos on social media as the dust obscured the sun in some parts of the country.

Abu Dhabi's Reem Island was among the areas hit by the storm, with the dust sharply cutting visibility.

The conditions lingered into the evening, but flights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were not affected.

Etihad Airways, Emirates and Fly Dubai all confirmed to the The National that flights were running as scheduled.

“Our operations have not been affected,” an Emirates spokesman said. “All flights are running per normal.”

Earlier, Abu Dhabi Police warned of poor visibility and urged drivers to take care.

Visibility was also reduced along the coast. In Dubai, there were hazy and dusty conditions and poor visibility.

The conditions appeared to be the tail end of a storm that covered Iraq on Monday.

Images from the EU's Copernicus satellite showed the weather front had moved south into the Gulf, leading to poor visibility and air quality.

At Doha's Hamad International Airport, visibility was reportedly down to 1,000 metres or less.

In the UAE, sandstorms are not unusual. They most often happen during the summer months and in turbulent weather, such as during the transition from winter to spring, when rising temperatures cause strong winds.

The NCM forecast more of the same for the UAE over the next few days.

Winds of up to 40 kph could kick up dust clouds on Wednesday and Thursday.

Iraq hit by dramatic sandstorm: in pictures