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
