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Look: When dust devil, thunderstorms brought UAE to a standstill 17 years ago
Heavy traffic clogged Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road and other key routes, while residents in other parts of the country faced similar congestion due to dusty conditions
- PUBLISHED: Sun 10 Aug 2025, 8:47 AM UPDATED: Sun 10 Aug 2025, 9:56 AM
Motorists and commuters in Dubai had to navigate the roads in low visibility and dusty conditions 17 years ago, while thunderstorms over the eastern mountains brought showers to Al Ain.
By the evening of August 10, 2008, visibility in Dubai had worsened, forcing drivers to slow down on highways and major roads. Heavy traffic clogged Sheikh Zayed Road and other key routes, while residents in other parts of the country faced similar congestion due to dusty conditions. Dubai Police reported several minor accidents but no serious injuries.
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Though the temperatures in Dubai peaked at 39°C, it still felt sweltering due to high humidity. “The low visibility was caused by thunderstorms that had developed over the mountains towards the east. They caused winds kicking up dust, which reduced visibility," a forecaster from the Dubai Meteorological Office told Khaleej Times.
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Al Ain and the Al Ain–Abu Dhabi highway were hit by thunderstorms, though no rain was expected in Dubai. The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology reported that the Al Faqa and Al Shiweb regions experienced thunderstorms, which brought temperatures down by a few degrees. A duty forecaster explained that the showers and thunderstorms were caused by the last spell of the monsoon that passed through the region on August 10, adding that Sharjah could see heavy rainfall.
In Al Ain, a sandstorm was followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms in parts of the city, with visibility dropping to 1km. “The temperature after the thunderstorm and the rain dropped from 45ºC to 35ºC,” an Al Ain Met official stated.
While the storm cooled conditions, humidity remained at 50 per cent, with light winds blowing from the east and northeast at around 7kmph.
Forecasters warned that the next day, August 11 would remain hot, humid, and uncomfortable, with daytime highs and evening temperatures hovering around 37°C. Residents were advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms due to the risk of lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds.
Thanweeruddin Mohammad oversees KT research and photo desk. Aside from his daily activities in the newsroom, he is also a fitness enthusiast who loves playing cricket and other outdoor games.