The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) issued yellow and orange alerts on 18 January 2026 after overnight lows dipped to 18 °C in Abu Dhabi, signalling the sharpest cold snap of the season. Fog, gusting north-westerlies and rough seas are forecast through mid-week, with visibility on some arterial highways expected to fall below 1 km during the pre-dawn window. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Air-side operations at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports remain normal, but airlines have warned passengers to allow extra time for ground transport as speed limits may be temporarily reduced on Sheikh Zayed Road and E11. Logistics operators have activated “winter routing” protocols that reroute time-critical freight away from Jebel Ali’s exposed berths when swell exceeds two metres. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Travellers adjusting plans because of the weather should also make sure their entry paperwork is squared away; VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides an instant requirements check, secure document upload and courier options, streamlining the visa process when schedules are already under pressure.
![UAE cool-weather alert prompts travel and logistics advisories]()
For employers, the immediate implication is duty of care. Driver-safety briefings should be re-circulated to field engineers and site-based staff who may be using rental vehicles on inter-emirate highways. Companies moving household goods or temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals this week should confirm that containers are climate-controlled and routed through inland depots if port delays occur.
The cold spell also affects weekend leisure travel: desert-camp operators in Liwa and eco-tour guides in Hatta have adjusted departure times and advised guests to bring thermal layers. Mobility managers organising orientation trips or look-and-see visits should update clothing guidance accordingly.
NCM expects temperatures to rebound to seasonal norms by Friday, but another trough could arrive in early February. The agency’s new WhatsApp alert channel, launched last month, offers real-time English and Arabic updates—worth adding to relocation welcome packs.
Air-side operations at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports remain normal, but airlines have warned passengers to allow extra time for ground transport as speed limits may be temporarily reduced on Sheikh Zayed Road and E11. Logistics operators have activated “winter routing” protocols that reroute time-critical freight away from Jebel Ali’s exposed berths when swell exceeds two metres. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Travellers adjusting plans because of the weather should also make sure their entry paperwork is squared away; VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides an instant requirements check, secure document upload and courier options, streamlining the visa process when schedules are already under pressure.
For employers, the immediate implication is duty of care. Driver-safety briefings should be re-circulated to field engineers and site-based staff who may be using rental vehicles on inter-emirate highways. Companies moving household goods or temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals this week should confirm that containers are climate-controlled and routed through inland depots if port delays occur.
The cold spell also affects weekend leisure travel: desert-camp operators in Liwa and eco-tour guides in Hatta have adjusted departure times and advised guests to bring thermal layers. Mobility managers organising orientation trips or look-and-see visits should update clothing guidance accordingly.
NCM expects temperatures to rebound to seasonal norms by Friday, but another trough could arrive in early February. The agency’s new WhatsApp alert channel, launched last month, offers real-time English and Arabic updates—worth adding to relocation welcome packs.
