DUBAI // Sandstorms swept across the country on Friday, with winds whipping up dust, reducing visibility and pushing up temperatures.
Rainfall is expected in some areas across the Emirates on Saturday and Sunday and this could bring with it a sharp drop in temperatures, the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) said.
A marine warning has also been issued, advising fishermen not to venture out to sea due to rough seas in the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.
“Southerly winds with 60kph speed and waves 8ft high over some areas of Arabian Gulf,” said the centre’s forecast.
Fresh and strong southerly winds blew dust and sand and reduced visibility to 700 metres at Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, the weather centre said, adding that visibility was down to 1,000 metres at Al Hamra, in Ras Al Khaimah.
Temperatures in coastal areas could rise to 36˚C and 39˚C inland on Friday and Saturday before the rain showers cool areas considerably, forecasters said.
The hazy, dusty weather on Friday was set to continue through to Saturday, blowing sand and hampering visibility.
Cloud cover is set to increase in coastal and northern areas, with “a significant fall in temperatures” following the rainfall, the NCMS said.
“Fresh to strong north-westerly winds, especially over the sea, will cause blowing dust and sand and reduce horizontal visibility with another fall in temperature,” according to the forecast for Sunday.
Rainfall was predicted on Sunday, too, with the marine warning extending throughout the weekend due to choppy seas.
The lowest temperature recorded on Friday morning was 16.6˚C at Jebel Jais mountain in RAK at 7am.
Dusty weather conditions followed by rainfall were also predicted by ArabiaWeather, a private forecaster for the region.
“It is expected that the dust will cause low visibility, perhaps non-existent in some areas, as the sea is disturbed and so considered dangerous,” the ArabiaWeather forecast said.
“There is risk of complications to the eyes and for respiratory patients because of the expected dust in the atmosphere.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
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Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
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Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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