• 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Strong winds stir up dust and sand in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • This picture taken on May 17, 2022 shows a view of the Kingdom Centre skyscraper in the centre of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh during a heavy dust storm. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
    This picture taken on May 17, 2022 shows a view of the Kingdom Centre skyscraper in the centre of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh during a heavy dust storm. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
  • The 302-metre building is almost obscured by dust. 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Traffic on a highway in the Seef district, in Bahrain's capital Manama. AFP
  • Heavy dust reduces visibility on a road in 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
    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 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
    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
    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 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
    A cleaner in the Marina mall area along the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Emirates Palace, 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
    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
    Sand and dust storm in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Hazy conditions as a sand storm hits 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
    Dust storm in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Sand and 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
    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
    The Museum of the Future during the dusty and hazy weather in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Gulf

Sand and dust storms hit the Gulf – in pictures

Visibility reduced in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

The National

May 18, 2022

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  • Arabic

More from The National:

UAE weather: Sandstorm blankets Abu Dhabi city

Visibility greatly reduced as sandstorm hits Riyadh

What causes the UAE's sandstorms and how common are they?

Iraq sandstorm brings country to a standstill

Iraq hit by further sandstorms – in pictures

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Updated: May 18, 2022, 10:51 AM
PhotographySaudi ArabiaKuwaitUAE