A blanket of thick fog swept across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah before dawn on 13 January, slashing visibility below 1,000 metres and triggering red and yellow alerts from the National Centre of Meteorology. Variable-speed signs on the E11 and E311 highways were cut to 60 km/h, while police patrols urged motorists to switch on fog lights and maintain safe distances. (visahq.com)
The weather snarled the region’s already congested morning commute: tailbacks from Sharjah’s Al Nahda stretched past Dubai International, adding up to 40 minutes for cross-emirate workers. Ride-hailing platforms applied surge pricing and same-day delivery firms reported delays, underlining how quickly weather—not policy—can disrupt one of the world’s most digitised travel markets. (visahq.com)
Aviation operations were also affected. Dubai Airports activated low-visibility procedures between 05:10 and 08:45 GST; while no runways closed, several arrivals entered extended holding patterns and early-morning departures left up to 25 minutes late. Corporate travel managers were advised to monitor feeds and warn staff with tight onward connections. (visahq.com)
![Dense fog disrupts UAE road and air networks, prompting duty-of-care reminders]()
For travellers caught off guard by weather-related delays, VisaHQ can fast-track the paperwork you might suddenly need—whether that’s adjusting an existing UAE tourist visa or securing an onward permit for another country—through its user-friendly online portal: https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/. The platform’s real-time status updates and 24/7 customer support can be invaluable when plans change as quickly as the Gulf’s winter fog.
Safety authorities reported a 22 % rise in minor accidents versus the previous Tuesday, though no major pile-ups occurred. Companies with field-based employees have been reminded to ensure vehicles carry legal fog lamps and to consider staggered start times during the UAE’s cool-season fog cycle, which typically runs through February. (visahq.com)
Mobility advice: allow extra buffer in appointment schedules, verify that insurance policies cover weather-related delays, and be ready to amend visa validity dates if extended stays become necessary due to missed flights or road closures. Service providers such as VisaHQ offer rush visa extensions to minimise compliance risks. (visahq.com)
The weather snarled the region’s already congested morning commute: tailbacks from Sharjah’s Al Nahda stretched past Dubai International, adding up to 40 minutes for cross-emirate workers. Ride-hailing platforms applied surge pricing and same-day delivery firms reported delays, underlining how quickly weather—not policy—can disrupt one of the world’s most digitised travel markets. (visahq.com)
Aviation operations were also affected. Dubai Airports activated low-visibility procedures between 05:10 and 08:45 GST; while no runways closed, several arrivals entered extended holding patterns and early-morning departures left up to 25 minutes late. Corporate travel managers were advised to monitor feeds and warn staff with tight onward connections. (visahq.com)
For travellers caught off guard by weather-related delays, VisaHQ can fast-track the paperwork you might suddenly need—whether that’s adjusting an existing UAE tourist visa or securing an onward permit for another country—through its user-friendly online portal: https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/. The platform’s real-time status updates and 24/7 customer support can be invaluable when plans change as quickly as the Gulf’s winter fog.
Safety authorities reported a 22 % rise in minor accidents versus the previous Tuesday, though no major pile-ups occurred. Companies with field-based employees have been reminded to ensure vehicles carry legal fog lamps and to consider staggered start times during the UAE’s cool-season fog cycle, which typically runs through February. (visahq.com)
Mobility advice: allow extra buffer in appointment schedules, verify that insurance policies cover weather-related delays, and be ready to amend visa validity dates if extended stays become necessary due to missed flights or road closures. Service providers such as VisaHQ offer rush visa extensions to minimise compliance risks. (visahq.com)
