UAE weather: Red alert as dense fog engulfs Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
NCM warns motorists to expect delays and drive with headlights on
DUBAI: A dense wave of fog blanketed central and northern parts of the UAE on Saturday morning, triggering an official red alert from the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
The fog, which reduced visibility to below 1,000 metres, began forming around 2:30 AM and persisted until 9:30 AM, according to the latest NCM bulletin released this morning.
Residents across Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, and the outskirts of Abu Dhabi reported severely reduced visibility, with Dubai South experiencing particularly dense conditions. The NCM map highlighted these as confirmed fog zones, urging commuters and motorists to drive with extreme caution.
UAE weather conditions
In surrounding areas such as coastal Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and roads leading to Ras Al Khaimah, mist and fog were anticipated. The weather is expected to stay fair to partly cloudy, with convective rain clouds likely to form over the eastern mountains by afternoon.
Temperatures today will vary widely, climbing to 35°C to 40°C inland, 34°C to 39°C along the coast, and 31°C to 36°C in mountain regions. Meanwhile, the lowest temperature recorded across the country was 17.1°C in Hamim (Al Dhafra Region) at 04:30 AM.
Humidity & wind
Humidity levels are forecast to increase tonight and into Sunday morning, especially in coastal and internal western regions, potentially leading to more fog or mist. Winds will generally be northwest to northeast, light to moderate, with speeds between 10–25 km/h, gusting up to 35 km/h.
Weekend outlook
Saturday and Sunday will continue with partly cloudy skies, especially in the east, where cumulus clouds may bring afternoon rainfall over mountain regions. Light fog is also expected overnight due to the effects of a surface pressure system impacting weather across the UAE.
Sea conditions will remain calm with light waves in both the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman throughout the weekend. Temperatures are projected to hover between 19°C and 28°C in most parts during night-time hours.