UAE weather: forecasters warn of dust clouds

Reduced visibility expected in parts of the country

Dusty weather could cut visibility in parts of the UAE, the National Centre of Meteorology said. Antonie Robertson / The National

Residents can expect dust clouds in parts of the UAE on Saturday.

The National Centre of Meteorology said winds of up to 40kph could kick up dust that cuts visibility to 2,000 metres in internal parts of the country.

Abu Dhabi Police urged drivers to be cautious due to low visibility.

"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," the force wrote on Twitter.

The weather is also expected to be humid this weekend, with levels potentially hitting 90 per cent in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as temperatures remain high.

Humidity in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will be up to 80 per cent on Saturday, the NCM said, rising to 90 per cent in both emirates on Sunday.

Residents also woke on Saturday to tremors after a quake shook southern Iran.

The NCM said a 6.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded in southern Iran at 7:37am UAE time and was "slightly felt by residents but without effect in the UAE".

Sand and dust storms hit the Gulf - in pictures

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