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

UAE weather: Heavy dust forecast for Emirates


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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.

  • A man walks past the Kuwait Towers shrouded in heavy dust, in Kuwait City. EPA
    A man walks past the Kuwait Towers shrouded in heavy dust, in Kuwait City. EPA
  • For the second time this month, the Kuwaiti capital suspended all flights on Monday because of the dust. EPA
    For the second time this month, the Kuwaiti capital suspended all flights on Monday because of the dust. EPA
  • People walk on a street shrouded in heavy dust in Kuwait City. EPA
    People walk on a street shrouded in heavy dust in Kuwait City. EPA
  • Cars on a road during heavy dust conditions in the Kuwaiti capital. EPA
    Cars on a road during heavy dust conditions in the Kuwaiti capital. EPA
  • Authorities gave a warning about reduced visibility in the city. EPA
    Authorities gave a warning about reduced visibility in the city. EPA
  • Birds flock in an empty car park during the sandstorm. EPA
    Birds flock in an empty car park during the sandstorm. EPA
  • Heavy dust advances towards the shore in Kuwait City. EPA
    Heavy dust advances towards the shore in Kuwait City. EPA
  • A man walks past the Kuwait Towers. EPA
    A man walks past the Kuwait Towers. EPA
  • The sandstorm approaches Kuwait City. AFP
    The sandstorm approaches Kuwait City. AFP
  • Footage from the country shows sparsely populated streets. AFP
    Footage from the country shows sparsely populated streets. AFP
  • Women film the storm in Kuwait City. AFP
    Women film the storm in Kuwait City. AFP
  • The sandstorm turns a street orange. AFP
    The sandstorm turns a street orange. AFP
  • Pedestrians cross a road during the severe dust storm. AFP
    Pedestrians cross a road during the severe dust storm. AFP
  • Sandstorms have engulfed parts of the Middle East in recent weeks. AFP
    Sandstorms have engulfed parts of the Middle East in recent weeks. AFP
  • The storms can put human health at grave risk, weather officials say. AFP
    The storms can put human health at grave risk, weather officials say. AFP

[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.

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Updated: May 23, 2022, 2:19 PM