Seasonal fog returned with a vengeance in the early hours of 3–5 December, prompting the National Centre of Meteorology to issue rare red and yellow alerts for Abu Dhabi, Dubai and parts of the Northern Emirates. Visibility on stretches of the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain highway fell below 300 metres, activating automated speed-limit reductions to 80 km/h and generating a flurry of police text messages to motorists.
Dubai International (DXB) kept operations running under low-visibility protocols, but several inbound flights were placed in extended holding patterns and turnaround times lengthened by up to 20 minutes. Sharjah Airport warned passengers to reconfirm departure times, while logistics firms reported minor delays to early-morning cargo runs between Jebel Ali Port and inland distribution hubs.
![Dense fog triggers red-alert warnings, speed caps and flight-status alerts across the UAE]()
For business travellers, the fog underscores a perennial winter risk: December-to-February morning departures are vulnerable to knock-on delays that can cascade through tight regional schedules. Corporate travel managers should encourage employees to build buffer time into meetings, register for airline SMS alerts and consider flexible ticket classes during the holiday rush.
Insurers note that road-traffic claims spike by roughly 30 percent on dense-fog days; companies operating ground fleets are advised to review telematics data and reinforce driver-safety briefings.
Dubai International (DXB) kept operations running under low-visibility protocols, but several inbound flights were placed in extended holding patterns and turnaround times lengthened by up to 20 minutes. Sharjah Airport warned passengers to reconfirm departure times, while logistics firms reported minor delays to early-morning cargo runs between Jebel Ali Port and inland distribution hubs.
For business travellers, the fog underscores a perennial winter risk: December-to-February morning departures are vulnerable to knock-on delays that can cascade through tight regional schedules. Corporate travel managers should encourage employees to build buffer time into meetings, register for airline SMS alerts and consider flexible ticket classes during the holiday rush.
Insurers note that road-traffic claims spike by roughly 30 percent on dense-fog days; companies operating ground fleets are advised to review telematics data and reinforce driver-safety briefings.
