World’s tallest building engulfed as Mideast sandstorms hit UAE

The world’s tallest building disappeared behind a grey layer of dust on Wednesday as sandstorms swept through the Middle East, prompting weather and traffic warnings.

The 828-metre (2,716-foot-6-inch) Burj Khalifa, which towers over Dubai and is usually visible across the busy financial hub, has receded behind an airborne dirt curtain that has 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 hospitals with breathing problems.

Capital city Abu Dhabi’s air quality index (AQI) 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.

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 (25 miles) per hour are blowing the dust, it said, reducing visibility in some areas to less than 2,000 metres (2,200 yards).

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.

According to the Saudi national weather service, dust was also affecting visibility in the west and south, specifically in the provinces of Assir, Najran, Hael, and Medina provinces. Medina is home to Medina City, Islam’s second holiest city.

Another sandstorm is expected to hit the kingdom by Sunday, according to the centre.