UAE weather: Fog blankets Abu Dhabi causing flight delays and diversions

City wakes up Friday morning to its first big mist of the season

Dense fog in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

The foggy Friday morning in Abu Dhabi didn't stop play in a game of street cricket. Ravindranath K / The National

Pedestrians out on a morning stroll. Ravindranath K / The National

Visibility was poor for motorists. Ravindranath K / The National

Ravindranath K / The National

Dense fog that engulfed the capital and caused travel disruption at airports on Friday morning has lifted.

Dozens of flights were delayed or diverted due to poor visibility.

Abu Dhabi Airport officials released a statement saying this morning’s heavy fog had an impact on aircraft movement at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

In a statement sent to The National, a spokesperson for Abu Dhabi International Airport said: "Several inbound and outbound flights have been affected."

Airport officials did not disclose the exact number of flights that have been delayed or diverted, but  flight monitoring website Flightradar24.com deemed at least 30 departures to have been delayed.

Several inbound flights were diverted. They included:

• Jet Airways Flight 9W514 from Pune was sent to Al Ain
• Etihad Flight EY485 from Brisbane was sent to Al Ain
• Etihad Flight EY281 from Cochin was sent to Dubai World Central
• Etihad Fight EY289 from Chennai was sent to Dubai World Central

“Abu Dhabi Airport experienced operational disruption in the early hours of Friday due to low visibility and weather conditions. Several inbound and outbound flights have been impacted,” said an Etihad Airways spokesperson

“The airline continues to monitor the weather conditions and has contingency plans in place should there be any further disruption to its flight schedule,” he added.

Flight operations returned to normal at 11:30am, with some delays anticipated in departing flights, Abu Dhabi International Airport said.

Airport officials urged passengers to contact their airlines for an update on their flight schedule before heading to the airport.

The UAE’s National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology warned of fog formation causing poor visibility of less than 500 meters over some internal areas, including Abu Dhabi and Al Rewas area on Friday.

Abu Dhabi Police warned drivers to be cautious while driving in low visibility.

UAE residents have been warned to be alert in internal and coastal areas due to poor visibility and fog formation over the weekend.

Fog was reported this morning over Al Bateen Airport, Al Shawamekh and all roads from and towards Abu Dhabi.

The Centre said weather today is expected to be fair with partly cloudy and hazy at times.

Humidity is expected to reach 95 per cent across coastal and interior regions, increasing at night and in the early morning across internal and coastal areas.

Seas will be sight to moderate.