The sandstorm has reduced visibility on the E12 highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The sandstorm has reduced visibility on the E12 highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The sandstorm has reduced visibility on the E12 highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The sandstorm has reduced visibility on the E12 highway in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

UAE weather: high winds cause sandstorm to descend on Abu Dhabi


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi police have urged motorists to drive with caution during the sandstorm that has descended on the capital.

Authorities issued the warning on social media, urging motorists not to take videos on their phones to record the storm that has been caused by high winds in the emirate.

"Abu Dhabi Police urges drivers to be cautious due to low visibility during high winds and dust," the force said in a tweet.

"And for your safety and for the safety of others on the road, please do not be distracted by taking any videos or using your phone."

Moderate winds were expected to blow dust during the day in the emirate, a forecast issued by the National Centre of Meteorology showed.

This is due to a weather system sweeping in from the Red Sea and southern Iran, which will be accompanied by humid winds, the NCM said.

In an updated warning issued on Tuesday afternoon, the NCM said winds with speeds of 40 kilometres per hour were blowing dust and reducing visibility to less than 1,000 metres in Liwa, Al Dhafra region.

Earlier, the NCM said temperatures will reach 41°C in Abu Dhabi city and 38°C in Dubai on Tuesday.

It could rain in the west, east and interior.

Parts of Sharjah were hit by heavy rain and hail on Sunday and more showers fell on Monday in Sharjah and Fujairah.

There is a chance of more rain throughout the week, the NCM said.

This is due to a weather system sweeping in from the Red Sea and southern Iran, which will be accompanied by humid winds, NCM said.

From Wednesday evening to Friday it will be partly cloudy with a chance of rain, especially in the west and south, extending over some areas on the coast and islands.

Temperatures will remain around 40°C to 41°C until Friday, when they will fall to 39°C in Abu Dhabi city and 35°C in Dubai.

Rain in the UAE - in pictures

  • A rainbow at Expo 2020 Dubai on a cloudy, rainy day for much of the country from Abu Dhabi city to the Northern Emirates on Sunday, January 16. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A rainbow at Expo 2020 Dubai on a cloudy, rainy day for much of the country from Abu Dhabi city to the Northern Emirates on Sunday, January 16. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A worker shelters beneath an umbrella in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A worker shelters beneath an umbrella in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Downtown Dubai awoke to rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Downtown Dubai awoke to rain. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Showers in Jumeirah, Dubai, made a day at the beach unappetising. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Showers in Jumeirah, Dubai, made a day at the beach unappetising. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Cyclists brave the weather in Deira. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Cyclists brave the weather in Deira. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • A car park in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A car park in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Showers in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
    Showers in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Police urged drivers to take care on the roads as rain fell across the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
    Police urged drivers to take care on the roads as rain fell across the UAE. Victor Besa / The National
  • Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 26°C in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 26°C in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Rain on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Rain on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Showers fell on various parts of Abu Dhabi before sunrise. Victor Besa / The National
    Showers fell on various parts of Abu Dhabi before sunrise. Victor Besa / The National
  • People make their way to work during the rain on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
    People make their way to work during the rain on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Forecasters said it would rain throughout the day. Victor Besa / The National
    Forecasters said it would rain throughout the day. Victor Besa / The National
  • It has been an exceptionally wet start to 2022 for the UAE, with more than 18 months' worth of rain falling in only a few days earlier in the month. Victor Besa / The National
    It has been an exceptionally wet start to 2022 for the UAE, with more than 18 months' worth of rain falling in only a few days earlier in the month. Victor Besa / The National
  • Almost the entire Abu Dhabi emirate was blanketed in dense fog at the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
    Almost the entire Abu Dhabi emirate was blanketed in dense fog at the weekend. Victor Besa / The National
  • People make their way on a street in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    People make their way on a street in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man crosses a road in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
    A man crosses a road in the capital. Victor Besa / The National
  • Many people were wearing warm clothes, as chilly temperatures accompanied the rains. Victor Besa / The National
    Many people were wearing warm clothes, as chilly temperatures accompanied the rains. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man rides an electric bike in the rain. Victor Besa / The National
    A man rides an electric bike in the rain. Victor Besa / The National
  • Women make their way amid the rains. Victor Besa / The National
    Women make their way amid the rains. Victor Besa / The National
  • An almost deserted beach in Abu Dhabi during the wet weather. Victor Besa / The National
    An almost deserted beach in Abu Dhabi during the wet weather. Victor Besa / The National
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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Updated: April 26, 2022, 12:36 PM