Early on the morning of 13 January 2026, a blanket of thick fog settled over Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, reducing visibility to below 1,000 metres in places and setting off a chain reaction of travel disruptions across the country. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued multiple red and yellow alerts, while variable-speed signs on the E11 and E311 highways were dropped to as low as 60 km/h. Police patrols were deployed along key corridors, urging motorists to switch on fog lights, maintain wider following distances and avoid sudden lane changes. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
For thousands of cross-emirate commuters the timing could not have been worse: tailbacks from Sharjah’s Al Nahda stretched well past Dubai International Airport, adding 30–40 minutes to a journey that is already one of the region’s most congested. Logistics companies reported delays in same-day deliveries, and ride-hailing platforms briefly introduced surge pricing as demand spiked. Although no major pile-ups were recorded, emergency services confirmed a 22 per cent increase in minor fender-benders versus the previous Tuesday. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
![Dense fog triggers travel and commuting disruptions across UAE]()
Travellers caught in such unforeseen slowdowns—especially those transiting through multiple jurisdictions—may also find themselves needing to tweak visa dates or secure new entry permits at short notice. VisaHQ’s dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines these formalities, offering step-by-step online applications, rush processing and expert support so that itinerary changes caused by weather don't turn into paperwork headaches.
Aviation operations also felt the ripple effects. While no runway closures were declared, Dubai Airports confirmed that low-visibility procedures were activated between 05:10 and 08:45 GST, forcing several arriving flights into extended holding patterns and delaying some early-morning departures by up to 25 minutes. Corporate travel managers were advised to monitor flight status feeds and to brief employees on the likelihood of knock-on delays at connecting hubs. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Meteorologists expect humidity to remain high through mid-week, raising the prospect of repeat fog events—common during the UAE’s cooler months. Companies with field-based staff have been reminded to re-check duty-of-care protocols, ensure vehicles are equipped with legal fog lamps and to stagger shift start times where possible. From a broader mobility standpoint, the episode underscores how weather, rather than policy, can still be a major disruptor in one of the world’s most technologically advanced travel markets.
For thousands of cross-emirate commuters the timing could not have been worse: tailbacks from Sharjah’s Al Nahda stretched well past Dubai International Airport, adding 30–40 minutes to a journey that is already one of the region’s most congested. Logistics companies reported delays in same-day deliveries, and ride-hailing platforms briefly introduced surge pricing as demand spiked. Although no major pile-ups were recorded, emergency services confirmed a 22 per cent increase in minor fender-benders versus the previous Tuesday. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Travellers caught in such unforeseen slowdowns—especially those transiting through multiple jurisdictions—may also find themselves needing to tweak visa dates or secure new entry permits at short notice. VisaHQ’s dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines these formalities, offering step-by-step online applications, rush processing and expert support so that itinerary changes caused by weather don't turn into paperwork headaches.
Aviation operations also felt the ripple effects. While no runway closures were declared, Dubai Airports confirmed that low-visibility procedures were activated between 05:10 and 08:45 GST, forcing several arriving flights into extended holding patterns and delaying some early-morning departures by up to 25 minutes. Corporate travel managers were advised to monitor flight status feeds and to brief employees on the likelihood of knock-on delays at connecting hubs. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Meteorologists expect humidity to remain high through mid-week, raising the prospect of repeat fog events—common during the UAE’s cooler months. Companies with field-based staff have been reminded to re-check duty-of-care protocols, ensure vehicles are equipped with legal fog lamps and to stagger shift start times where possible. From a broader mobility standpoint, the episode underscores how weather, rather than policy, can still be a major disruptor in one of the world’s most technologically advanced travel markets.
