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Health hazard warning as dusty weather to continue in UAE
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.
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
As Ramadan 2026 begins in the UAE, Dubai residents should prepare for changes to public parking hours, Dubai Metro timings, Dubai Tram operations, and public transport schedules across the city.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially confirmed revised timings to reflect shorter working hours and shifting traffic patterns during the holy month.
Here’s everything residents need to know.
Public parking timings
Public parking in Dubai will follow a split schedule from Monday to Saturday:
- 8am to 6pm (paid parking)
- 8pm to 12am (midnight) (paid parking)
- 2am to 8am remains free
- Sundays remain free across all zones
Multi-storey parking facilities will continue to operate 24/7.
Residents using Parkonic zones should check signage in their area, as some locations may operate under different schedules.
Metro timings
The Dubai Metro (Red Line and Green Line) will run as follows:
- Monday to Thursday: 5am to 12am
- Friday: 5am to 1am (next day)
- Saturday: 5am to 12am
- Sunday: 8am to 12am
The extended Friday service supports increased late-night travel during Ramadan evenings.
Tram timings
Dubai Tram will operate:
- Monday to Saturday: 6am to 1am (next day)
- Sunday: 9am to 1am (next day)
Bus and marine transport updates
For updated Dubai bus timings during Ramadan, commuters are advised to check the S’hail app for live schedules.
Marine transport schedules are available on the official RTA website.
Customer Happiness Centres working hours
Smart Customer Happiness Centres in:
- Umm Ramool
- Deira
- Al Barsha
- Al Kifaf
- RTA Head Office
will continue operating 24/7.
With Ramadan traffic patterns typically shifting, especially in the hour before Iftar, residents are encouraged to plan journeys and allow extra travel time.
Dubai motorists: New RTA road slashes commute time by 60 per cent
Ramadan in UAE: Abu Dhabi announces new toll hours and parking timings
