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Health hazard warning as dusty weather to continue in UAE

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The world’s tallest building disappeared behind a grey layer of dust on Thursday as sandstorms that have swept the Middle East hit the United Arab Emirates, prompting weather and traffic warnings.
The 828-metre tall Burj Khalifa, which towers over Dubai and is usually visible across the busy financial hub, retreated behind a curtain of airborne dirt that shrouded much of the country.
The UAE is just the latest country in the path of sandstorms that have smothered Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others in recent days, closing airports and schools and sending thousands to hospital with breathing problems.
Capital city Abu Dhabi’s air quality index soared into the “hazardous” zone overnight, according to waqi.info and the Plume pollution app.
The Middle East’s sandstorms are becoming more frequent and intense, a trend associated with overgrazing and deforestation, overuse of river water and more dams.
Experts say the phenomenon could worsen as climate change warps regional weather patterns and drives desertification.

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File picture of the buildings on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.

Emirati authorities issued a nationwide warning urging residents to remain vigilant.
“Abu Dhabi Police urges drivers to be cautious due to low visibility during high winds and dust,” the police force tweeted, as residents took to social media to publish photos and videos.
“Please do not be distracted by taking any videos or using your phone,” it added.
A National Center for Meteorology graphic showed nearly all the country covered by the storm, with the warning: “Be on the alert: hazardous weather events are expected.”
Winds with speeds up to 40 kilometres per hour are blowing the dust, it said, reducing visibility in some areas to less than 2,000 metres.
However, a Dubai airports spokesman said there was no impact on air traffic. Weather conditions were expected to remain the same for the next few days.
In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, badly hit on Tuesday, conditions eased in the capital Riyadh on Wednesday but continued to restrict visibility in the city centre.
Emergency rooms in Riyadh hospitals received some 1,285 people suffering from respiratory problems over 24 hours from the sandstorm, the state-run Al-Ekhbariya channel reported late on Tuesday.
The Saudi national weather centre reported that dust was also affecting visibility in the west and south, specifically in Assir, Najran, Hael and Medina provinces. Medina is home to Medina city, the second-holiest city in Islam.
The centre predicted another sandstorm would arrive in the kingdom by Sunday.

Agence France-Presse

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Sharjah sets deadline for owners to collect impounded vehicles

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Motorists in Sharjah have been urged to take immediate action to retrieve vehicles and other items impounded by the Sharjah City Municipality, with a deadline set later this week.

In a notice issued on Monday, the Municipality called on owners of vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles that have been impounded for more than six months to complete the required release procedures.

Owners have been instructed to visit the Inspection and Control Department in Industrial Area 5 within four days from the date of the notice, ending January 29, to address the reasons for impoundment and collect their properties.

The Municipality warned that failure to comply within the specified period will result in the impounded items being sold through a public auction after the deadline.

The notice was shared via the Municipality’s official social media channels, where a QR code was also provided to allow owners to access a list of impounded vehicles and related items.

Residents are advised to act promptly to avoid losing ownership of their impounded properties.

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Abu Dhabi introduces new safety guidelines for e-scooters

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If you ride an e-scooter or electric bike in Abu Dhabi, it’s worth knowing where you’re allowed to go, and where you’re not.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport has outlined designated areas where electric bikes and scooters are permitted, along with clear restrictions aimed at improving safety, easing traffic flow and supporting smarter urban mobility.

According to the department, e-bikes and scooters are allowed on internal roads with speed limits below 40km/h, dedicated cycling and e-bike lanes, and shared paths designed for both pedestrians and cyclists.

However, riding is strictly prohibited on highways, pedestrian-only paths, and roads outside the city where speed limits are 60km/h or higher.

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) said the rules are part of a broader plan to create a safe, connected network of cycling and e-bike routes across the emirate, encouraging active transport and better integration with public transport.

Pedestrian safety remains a top priority. Riders are required to follow traffic laws, obey road signs and markings, ride in the direction of traffic, keep a safe distance from pedestrians and use designated cycling lanes whenever available.

Cyclists are also reminded that riding on roads with speed limits above 60km/h requires a special permit. On roads with speed limits of 60km/h or below and no cycling lanes, riders should keep to the right-hand side.

Parking is only allowed in designated areas to avoid blocking pedestrians or vehicles. Riders must also maintain at least a five-metre distance from school buses when warning lights are on, and the stop arm is extended. Group cycling tours must obtain prior approval from Abu Dhabi Police.

Authorities say the measures are designed to keep everyone, riders, pedestrians and motorists,  safe while supporting a more active and sustainable transport culture in the capital.





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Planning a trip to Mleiha? Sharjah warns against entering the park without permission

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Sharjah authorities have warned that strict legal action, including hefty fines, will be taken against any vehicle entering Mleiha National Park without official authorisation.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) said the park is a protected national site established by Emiri decree and governed by a strict legislative framework aimed at preserving its archaeological, cultural and environmental significance.

Shurooq stressed that unauthorised access by any type of vehicle, without exception, constitutes a direct violation of the park’s protected status and will result in financial penalties and other legal measures. The enforcement is intended to prevent damage to the park’s fragile terrain and irreplaceable archaeological remains, which cannot be restored once disturbed.

Mleiha National Park forms part of the Al Faya Site, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025. The designation places additional responsibility on local authorities to ensure the long-term protection of the site as a rare and continuous record of early human history.

Public access to the park is therefore strictly limited to approved, organised activities supervised by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre. All visits must be booked exclusively through the centre and conducted along designated routes in accordance with established guidelines designed to safeguard the site.





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