The Burj Al Arab on a dusty and hazy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Al Arab on a dusty and hazy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Al Arab on a dusty and hazy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Al Arab on a dusty and hazy day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

UAE weather: dust alert in place with temperatures set to drop


Gillian Duncan
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Tuesday will be dusty and windy, with temperatures set to drop, especially over the coast.

The mercury will hit 32°C in Dubai and 35°C in Abu Dhabi during the hottest parts of the day in both emirates.

Forecasters at the National Centre of Meteorology issued a warning about wind speeds, which are expected to reach 40 kilometres per hour, kicking up dust clouds and reducing visibility at times.

The eastern half of the country, including Abu Dhabi city and extending inland to the border with Saudi Arabia, will be affected.

A dust alert is in force until 6pm on Tuesday.

The dust is expected to affect air quality, with some areas, especially near the coast, registering “very unhealthy” levels early on Tuesday, the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi’s air quality index showed.

The winds will also create rough conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea.

Wednesday is expected to be another windy and dusty day, with temperatures reaching 34°C in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It will be hotter in the south, with highs of 42°C.

Thursday will be fair, becoming partly cloudy at times, with light to moderate winds, which will pick up at times, blowing dust. Temperatures will reach 38°C in Dubai and 36°C Abu Dhabi.

It will be hot and mostly sunny on Friday, with highs of 42°C Abu Dhabi and 38°C in Dubai.

Read more: What causes dust and sandstorms in the UAE and are they dangerous?

  • A sandstorm hit Dubai on September 25, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National.
    A sandstorm hit Dubai on September 25, 2021. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • The storm reduced visibility across the city. Pawan Singh / The National.
    The storm reduced visibility across the city. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Motorists exercised caution as the storm made driving conditions challenging. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Motorists exercised caution as the storm made driving conditions challenging. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road were hidden by a blanket of sand. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road were hidden by a blanket of sand. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Traffic slowed on Dubai's motorways as the storm swept in. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Traffic slowed on Dubai's motorways as the storm swept in. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • The sun failed to pierce through a thick layer of sand and dust in the air. Pawan Singh / The National.
    The sun failed to pierce through a thick layer of sand and dust in the air. Pawan Singh / The National.
  • Motorists maintained a safe distance from one another to avoid collision. Pawan Singh / The National.
    Motorists maintained a safe distance from one another to avoid collision. Pawan Singh / The National.
Updated: May 03, 2022, 5:51 AM