UAE weather: Heavy dust forecast for Emirates

Conditions over northern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait set to drift towards the Gulf

The dusty weather could linger in parts of the UAE until Friday, forecasters said. Antonie Robertson / The National

Forecasters on Monday predicted several days of dusty weather for the UAE.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) on social media said the conditions over Syria, Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia are moving towards the Arabian Gulf. Kuwait has also been affected.

North-westerly winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour will kick up dust clouds on Tuesday in parts of the UAE, the NCM said.

[It will be] hot and dusty during daytime," the NCM said. "Light to moderate south-easterly becoming north-westerly winds ... over the sea [will cause] blowing and suspended dust especially westward."

The conditions are expected again on Wednesday and could even linger until the start of the weekend.

Parts of the Gulf have again been enveloped in an orange haze of dust that has reduced visibility, caused travel chaos and exacerbated respiratory issues for many people.

Kuwait on Monday suspended flights at its airport due to the severe weather caused by a dust storm. Iraq has also been choked by successive sandstorms, sending thousands to hospital with respiratory problems.

Climate change is believed to be one of the main factors behind the flurry of dust storms hitting Iraq, government officials and experts have said.

Conditions in the UAE have been less severe, but the country has experienced several patches of dusty weather.

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.