The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) triggered a red alert for dense fog from 04:00 to 08:00 on 21 September, Khaleej Times reports. Visibility below 1 kilometre is expected across parts of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, coinciding with the morning peak at DXB and AUH. While UAE airports are equipped with CAT III landing systems, low-visibility operations slow down arrival rates and often force departure holds. Ground-handling teams must work under strict safety protocols, leading to knock-on delays. Airlines typically apply flow-control measures such as flight-specific slot revisions and extended taxi times. Business travellers with early-morning departures should arrive even earlier than usual and monitor airline SMS or app notifications. Companies moving time-sensitive cargo—pharma and perishables in particular—should clarify contingency cold-chain procedures with logistics providers. Meteorologists also forecast daytime highs of 45 °C in Dubai and 44 °C in Abu Dhabi, meaning ramp crews face dual heat-and-humidity stress. The General Civil Aviation Authority encourages operators to adjust staff rotations to avoid fatigue, another potential source of operational delay. Global-mobility managers may wish to reroute arriving VIPs to late-morning or afternoon flights where feasible and brief relocating staff on the possibility of extended immigration queues during low-visibility protocols.
Source: Khaleej Times
