Sandstorms in the UAE: what to do

Before a sandstorm

• Follow weather forecasts and official dust warnings so you are not caught out.^[1]
• If anyone has asthma or allergies, agree a plan with their doctor and keep medicine on hand.^[1]
• Keep face masks at home and in the car.^[3]
• Know that storms can hit as a sudden wall of dust and usually pass within minutes.^[2]

From our guide: Sandstorms and dust storms (sources listed there).

During a sandstorm

• Stay indoors and only go out if you really need to.^[1]
• Shut doors and windows tightly and block gaps with damp towels.^[4]
• Outside, cover nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth and change it often.^[1]
• Do not rub your eyes. Wear protective glasses if you must be outdoors.^[4]
• People with asthma or lung disease should stay inside and take medicine as prescribed.^[1]
• Avoid open spaces at the peak of the storm and when visibility is poor.^[4]
• Wash your face, nose and mouth often.^[4]

From our guide: Sandstorms and dust storms (sources listed there).

If you are driving

• Avoid driving into a dust storm if at all possible.^[2]
• Close all windows and set air conditioning to recirculate or off to keep dust out.^[3]
• If dust is thick, pull right off the road, stop and set the handbrake.^[2]
• Once parked off the road, turn off all lights and take your foot off the brake so others do not follow you.^[2]
• Never stop in a driving lane. Keep your seatbelt on.^[3]
• If you cannot pull off, slow right down, use lights and follow the road markings.^[2]

From our guide: Sandstorms and dust storms (sources listed there).

After the storm

• Clean dust thoroughly from the home, especially bedrooms, sheets and blankets.^[1]
• See a doctor for persistent coughing, wheezing or watery eyes.^[4]
• Go to the emergency department straight away for any difficulty breathing.^[4]
• Keep checking forecasts, as more dust may follow.^[1]

From our guide: Sandstorms and dust storms (sources listed there).

NCEMA advice for sandstorms

Print this checklist (one-page PDF)

Before a sandstorm

• Follow weather forecasts and official media and social media accounts.
• Close windows tightly and secure loose items such as metal sheets, TV aerials and garden tools.
• Park your car where the storm is unlikely to damage it.
• Keep children indoors, and put off outdoor work until the storm has passed.

During a sandstorm

• Limit time outdoors, and keep children with asthma, allergies or breathing problems inside unless it is urgent.
• Keep away from glass windows and doors.
• If you are outside, get to a safe place and tell someone where you are.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or damp cloth, and protect your eyes with glasses.
• Do not stand under tall trees, and avoid open areas, especially if you have allergies, asthma or a chest infection.
• If you receive an evacuation order, follow it immediately.

Driving in a sandstorm

• Listen to weather updates on the radio.
• Drive slowly, do not overtake and keep a safe distance, especially if visibility drops suddenly.
• Close the outside air intake if the air conditioning is on.
• Use hazard lights only to warn other drivers.
• If you must stop, pull completely off the road and call your family to say you are safe.
• If visibility becomes extremely poor, leave the main road if you can, stop and keep your lights on.

After the storm

• Do not leave home until you are sure things are back to normal.
• Watch for sand on the road: drive slowly, do not overtake, and take extra care where sand can make you skid.

Emergency numbers

• 999 Police
• 998 Ambulance
• 997 Civil Defence

Source: Sand Storms (awareness message), National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) (checked 13 October 2026). Advice from the UAE federal emergency authority (NCEMA). Always follow current instructions from UAE authorities.