ABU DHABI // Sandstorms are expected to sweep the region this weekend with winds reaching 50kph at sea and over land by early tomorrow morning.
Drivers should expect low visibility caused by dust and sand, especially in western areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology.
Temperatures will rise significantly to 30°C in Al Ain, Liwa and Ras Al Khaimah and cool at night to lows of about 13°C in desert and mountain areas.
Abu Dhabi will have a high of 29°C with a low of 15°C. Temperatures will be a moderate 17°C to 28°C in Dubai.
Skies will be hazy and partly cloudy this weekend, with more clouds in the northern and eastern areas.
South-easterly and south-westerly winds will blow at 20 to 36kph over land tonight. Winds will continue throughout the weekend.
The sea will be moderate to rough by tomorrow morning, with offshore waves of three to seven feet. North-easterly and south-easterly winds will reach 30 to 40kph over the sea tonight.
azacharias@thenational.ae
The biog
Name: Maitha Qambar
Age: 24
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Education: Master’s Degree
Favourite hobby: Reading
She says: “Everyone has a purpose in life and everyone learns from their experiences”
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
