Monster fog hits UAE: Driving conditions hazardous in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain

Dubai: A thick blanket of fog—dubbed a "monster fog" by residents—engulfed major parts of the UAE early Friday morning, prompting the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) to issue an official fog alert for Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, and surrounding areas.

Motorists are being strongly urged to exercise extreme caution as visibility dropped to less than 1,000 meters in several areas, with the alert remaining in place until 9:30am. Dubai South reported especially dense fog in the early hours, significantly disrupting visibility on key roads.

Today’s weather will remain fair to partly cloudy, according to the NCM, with a chance of convective rain clouds forming over eastern mountainous regions by the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to soar, with highs ranging from 35°C to 40°C inland, 34°C to 39°C along the coast, and 31°C to 36°C in mountainous regions.

Conditions will remain humid tonight and into Sunday morning, particularly over coastal and internal western areas, increasing the likelihood of further fog or mist. Winds will be light to moderate, occasionally freshening from the northwest to northeast at speeds of 10–25 km/h, gusting up to 35 km/h.

Travel Advisory: Motorists are advised to drive with headlights on, maintain safe distances, and avoid sudden braking due to low visibility.