Heavy fog causes major traffic delays across UAE, authorities urge caution

Dubai: Commuters across the UAE, with critical congestion in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, faced significant delays after the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued a high-level alert for heavy fog on Thursday, November 20, 2025. The warning covered vast coastal and internal areas, advising of severely reduced horizontal visibility in some places dropping below 50 meters until 10.30 am.

Primary roads, including Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), and Al Khail Road, experiencing prolonged periods of gridlock. Traffic monitoring systems recorded average speeds plummeting well below 40 km/h in most key sectors during the peak morning rush. Congestion has also been reported across key industrial and residential zones within Dubai. Areas such as Al Barsha, Al Quoz, and Ras Al Khor are heavily affected.

According to Google Maps, there is a noticeable build-up of traffic in several key areas, with congestion being particularly severe in neighbourhoods such as Jumeirah Village, and Dubai Production City. Additionally, traffic is heavily impacted along Al Asayel Street, where vehicles are moving at a crawl.

In Al Quoz and Ras Al Khor, the reduced speed of industrial vehicles combined with the low visibility created chokepoints, particularly around access routes and roundabouts. Meanwhile, residential routes in Al Barsha saw significant buildup as drivers took to internal roads to avoid the standstill on the main highways, leading to slow moving traffic through the neighbourhood. Commuters attempting to traverse the city from the neighbouring emirates of Sharjah and Ajman found their journey times more than doubled.

In the capital, Abu Dhabi Police implemented automated speed reductions on all major external highways, including the E11 and E30, setting the dynamic speed limit to 80 km/h to enforce safer driving distances and reaction times. Furthermore, strict measures were enforced concerning heavy goods vehicles; trucks and lorries were temporarily barred from using most roads until the NCM officially announced the clearance of the fog layer.

In direct response to the hazardous conditions, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) issued a comprehensive safety alert across its channels, urging motorists to adhere strictly to safety guidelines.

Motorists should continue to maintain a safe braking distance, avoid sudden lane changes or overtaking maneuvers. Authorities across Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintain a heightened state of readiness, monitoring visibility levels closely. Patience and compliance with the reduced speed limits remain the most effective tools for ensuring road safety throughout the UAE today.