• The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque area in Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm on Tuesday. Victor Besa / The National
    The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque area in Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm on Tuesday. Victor Besa / The National
  • Dust in the air around the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dust in the air around the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Towers in Dubai Marina as dust reduces visibility to a few hundred metres. Pawan Singh / The National
    Towers in Dubai Marina as dust reduces visibility to a few hundred metres. Pawan Singh / The National
  • People relax at a public beach near Palm Jumeirah. Pawan Singh / The National
    People relax at a public beach near Palm Jumeirah. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Jumeirah Lake Towers during the sandstorm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Jumeirah Lake Towers during the sandstorm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Boats in the waters of Palm Jumeirah. Pawan Singh / The National
    Boats in the waters of Palm Jumeirah. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Dusty conditions descended over almost the entire UAE, with only the far western edge spared. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dusty conditions descended over almost the entire UAE, with only the far western edge spared. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Sheikh Zayed bridge in Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm. Victor Besa / The National
    The Sheikh Zayed bridge in Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm. Victor Besa / The National
  • Heavy dust in the Zayed Sports City area of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Heavy dust in the Zayed Sports City area of Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Traffic on the roads in the Ministry of Interior area of Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm. Victor Besa / The National
    Traffic on the roads in the Ministry of Interior area of Abu Dhabi, during the sandstorm. Victor Besa / The National
  • Strong winds blow dust in the Adnec area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Strong winds blow dust in the Adnec area, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • More of the same weather is expected over the next few days, with a probability of dust and sand affecting visibility up until at least Sunday. Victor Besa / The National
    More of the same weather is expected over the next few days, with a probability of dust and sand affecting visibility up until at least Sunday. Victor Besa / The National

UAE weather: forecasters warn of reduced visibility in some areas due to dust


Gillian Duncan
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Forecasters have issued a warning about dust, which will reduce visibility in some areas on Tuesday.

The western parts of the country will be the worst affected, the National Centre of Meteorology said.

The warning comes after the NCM predicted several days of dusty weather due to a system that was over Syria, Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia, and moving towards the Arabian Gulf.

Kuwait has also been affected, resulting in the suspension of flights because of severe weather.

The NCM said north-westerly winds reaching up to 40 kilometres an hour will kick up dust clouds on Tuesday in parts of the UAE.

Temperatures will top 40°C in Abu Dhabi city and 38°C in Dubai. It will be hotter in the south, with highs of 45°C.

Conditions will be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf but calm in the Sea of Oman.

The weather will be similar on Wednesday, with conditions expected to linger until the start of the weekend.

Temperatures for the rest of the working week will remain in the high 30s on the coast, dipping slightly on Friday.

The region has been in the grip of dust storms over the past couple of weeks. See the graphic below tracking dust in the Arabian Gulf.

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 mostly happen during the summer months and in turbulent weather, such as during the transition from winter to spring, when rising temperatures cause strong winds.

Updated: May 24, 2022, 1:28 PM