Experts say haze in UAE ‘not a dust storm or sandstorm’

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Experts say haze in UAE ‘not dust storm or sandstorm’

According to representatives from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the UAE did not experience a dust storm or a sandstorm.

For the past two days, the country has been covered in a veil of dust that severely reduced visibility, interfered with flight operations, and caused slow-moving traffic.

“What happened in the UAE is not dust or sandstorm. At NCM we don’t call this a storm. This is dust suspension,” says Dr. Ahmed Habib from the NCM.

Dr. Habib says that the dust suspension came from the South and South-east of the country.

“There is low pressure in the South associated with fresh and strong winds in the South-east of the UAE…between the UAE and Oman. So, a sandstorm has occurred there, not here,” Dr. Habib said.

“The wind direction blew the sand to our country over the UAE leading to a loss in visibility. But there is no fresh wind here. The dusty air mass from their area moved to our area. So, here we actually didn’t witness the occurrence of either dust or sandstorm,” he added. BKM/ Expat Media

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