Manama: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have suspended classes and shut down schools after a powerful sand storm blew over the Gulf.
Kuwait's universities, colleges and institutes were also closed for the day as a consequence of the bad weather, the education ministry said.
The Saudi ministry of education announced on Monday the closure of schools in the north, east and south-west of the desert kingdom, a day after similar measures were taken in Riyadh, the official SPA news agency reported.
In Yemen, the sand storm severely disrupted air traffic in and out of Sanaa's international airport.
At least two flights into the Yemeni capital were cancelled on Monday morning while several others were either delayed or re-routed to the southern port city of Aden, the official Saba news agency reported.
In Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the coastguards have warned fishermen against venturing in the sea, urging them to wait until the conditions improved.
In Bahrain, traffic authorities said that 54 accidents occurred between 6 am and noon after visibility was drastically reduced. Health officials said that 250 people had to be treated at the country's main hospital.
With input from agencies
