Sandstorm warning with wild winds in coming days



ABU DHABI // Strong winds whipping up choking dust and sand into the air are likely to continue for another two days.

Offshore winds reached 70kph yesterday, causing waves of more than 4.5 metres.

The Sharjah coast bustled with ships trying to escape the high seas. Eight crew were injured when a tugboat was swept off its mooring in Hamriya. Four remain in Ajman’s Sheikh Khalifa hospital, and the others were treated and discharged.

The northwesterly wind lifted sand and dust into the air, especially in open areas such as the desert. Visibility was down to 800 metres in Jebel Ali yesterday morning, and drivers were urged to take extra care.

Hospitals and clinics reported a surge of patients, particularly children, with breathing difficulties.

“The patients who are the most at risk are children who have asthma,” said Dr Anwar Sallam, deputy chief medical officer at Mafraq Hospital.

"There is an exacerbation of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath during this change of weather and sandstorms.
"We see many more children with asthma coming in for medication and some of the severe cases are advised to stay in the hospital."

Doctors urged those susceptible to asthma, allergies and respiratory diseases to stay inside, especially in particularly dusty areas.

“The strong winds aggravate the sandstorm and carry dust with silica particles,” said Dr Bassam Mahboub, head of Dubai Hospital’s allergy and respiratory department and the vice chairman of the Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society. “This is an irritant to normal people but can aggravate asthma, rhinitis and respiratory diseases.” He advised those on asthma medication to be sure to take it.

Parents also needed to watch out for flu and other viruses taking hold during the cold weather.

“This weather will not necessarily affect healthy children but they just need to be careful and not play in the sandstorm,” said Dr Sallam.

“This change of weather is an opportunity for viruses, so children could be affected by colds and flu. The rule of thumb in changing weather is to be prepared, and to avoid playing outdoors in sandstorms especially if you are an asthma patient.”

Dr Fatma Al Olama, head of Maternal and Child Health at the Dubai Health Authority, also said children were most at risk.
"Most parents are bringing in babies and children with wheezing and chest problems," she said. "We advise parents to keep children prone to allergies at home.

“But when children go to school that is difficult because they will play outside. So parents must keep a watch so that any health problems do not worsen.”

In Sharjah, three large ships, four tugboats and two barges were anchored off the Corniche, with a further ship, two tugboats and a barge off the Hamriya shore. Also in that area, two workers were rescued by the coast guard after their barge got into trouble in high waves. Three barges were also reported to have anchored in Ras Al Khaimah.

Fishermen were warned to stay ashore, as crowds gathered along the Sharjah corniche for a look at the newly arrived ships.
Some tugboat crews struggled to berth their vessels, with heavy waves repeatedly pushing them on to the shoreline then pulling them back to sea.

At one point a crew looked poised to jump off their tugboat, only to be warned against it by a coastguard megaphone. “No one should jump,” cautioned the coastguard. “You are safe there on your boats, we are going to get you out – just be patient and wait, you are all men.”

Dubai municipality workers used sweeper machines to clear main roads on Saturday night and yesterday morning. The worst affected was the road leading to Sheikh Maktoum International Airport, although arterial roads were not closed.

“Most of the sand seems to have settled on the road to the Sheikh Maktoum airport,” said Yaqoob Al Ali, the head of the Dubai Municipality’s specialised cleaning section. “Workers were at their job removing the sand in teams working throughout the night to clear the roads.”

Outdoors workers were advised to be on the lookout for flying debris, and to ensure their harnesses were secure.

Visibility in some interior areas is expected to fall to 3km today. There will also be an increase in humidity at night and early in the morning, especially in inland areas.

Police urged motorists to drive carefully and keep a safe distance between cars.

“Drivers are advised against using hazard lights,” said Lt Imran Abdullah of Dubai traffic police. “When there is low visibility, it is better for them to stop on the side of the road and wait until the weather conditions are better for driving.”

Yesterday’s top temperature was expected to be between 22°C and 25°C, with a low of between 8°C and 15°C, according to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS).

Today and tomorrow the temperature is expected to drop to between 8°C and 19°C in the interior and 11°C-17°C on the coast.
The lowest temperature recorded yesterday was 1.2°C in Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah.

The northwesterly winds will continue, with winds gradually dropping to between 25 and 35kph, especially over land. However, over the sea there will be strong winds of up to 55kph.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

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Short-term let permits explained

Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.

Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.

There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.

Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.

RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m, Winner SS Lamea, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer).

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m, Winner AF Makerah, Sean Kirrane, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m, Winner Maaly Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,600m, Winner AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m, Winner Morjanah Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,200m, Winner Mudarrab, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy

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Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia