The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued back-to-back red and yellow alerts early on 29 September as dense fog formations reduced horizontal visibility below 200 metres across parts of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Aviation meteorology bulletins (SIGMET UAE-FIR) warned flight crews of sudden visibility shifts, low-level wind shear and light icing between 300 and 3,000 feet—conditions that typically trigger increased spacing between arrivals and departures at Dubai International. By 07:00 local time, air-traffic controllers at DXB had already instituted “flow-control” procedures, stretching inbound approach sequences by up to six minutes and pushing some departures beyond allocated slots. Budget carrier flydubai told passengers to expect knock-on delays throughout the morning wave, while Etihad cautioned that Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International could see minor rescheduling if fog persisted on the coastal approach path. On the ground, Abu Dhabi Police lowered speed limits on key arterial highways to 80 km/h and deployed patrols around the E11 Sheikh Zayed Road to manage potential multi-vehicle pile-ups. Logistics operators serving Jebel Ali Free Zone reported that early-morning truck dispatches were staggered to mitigate accident risk and ensure time-critical air-to-sea transfers still met cut-off times at the port. For mobility planners the weather alert underscores the importance of buffer periods in assignment itineraries. HR teams are advised to remind inbound assignees to book flexible airport transfers, verify chauffeur pick-up times in real-time, and carry hard copies of entry permits in case immigration lines lengthen when multiple flights land simultaneously after visibility improves. NCM expects fog to lift by late morning, but forecast models show another wave of convective clouds over the Hajar mountain range that could generate isolated rainfall and further delays this evening. Travellers should keep mobile apps for their airline and the NCM enabled for push notifications and allow extra lead time when driving to meetings or relocation appointments.
Source: Khaleej Times
