A blanket of dense fog rolled across Dubai and Abu Dhabi at dawn on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, slashing visibility to only a few metres on major highways and forcing police to cut speed limits to 80 kph. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) warned that coastal and inland fog would persist until at least Thursday, and Abu Dhabi Police activated variable-message signs and mobile phone alerts to enforce lower speeds. Long-haul drivers and early-shift staff faced doubled journey times. Commuters reported “zero visibility” on sections of Sheikh Zayed Road and the E11, while construction barriers newly installed on the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain highway created additional bottlenecks. Road Safety UAE urged motorists to allow a five-second following distance, switch on low-beam headlights and avoid hazard-light misuse. Aviation operations felt the ripple effect: Emirates confirmed several delayed arrivals and departures at Dubai International, while Sharjah Airport temporarily held inbound Air Arabia flights until runway visual range improved. Airlines implemented low-visibility procedures, increasing aircraft separation and staggering departures.
![Thick fog blankets UAE, forcing speed limits and disrupting commutes]()
For travellers whose schedules are thrown off by weather-related disruptions, VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides a fast way to review entry rules, secure urgent visas or extend existing permits, helping keep documentation in order even when the fog isn’t.
The recurring winter fog has become a strategic planning issue for mobility managers and business-travel coordinators. Multinational employers advised staff to work remotely where feasible and to pad itineraries with extra transit time. Freight forwarders also rescheduled early-morning collections, citing knock-on delays at Jebel Ali Port due to slower road haulage. Although the UAE’s highways and airports are equipped with advanced traffic-management and Category III Instrument Landing Systems, officials reminded residents that safety overrides punctuality. With Ramadan approaching and visitor numbers climbing, authorities said they would maintain stepped-up patrols and dynamic speed controls until the fog season subsides.
For travellers whose schedules are thrown off by weather-related disruptions, VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) provides a fast way to review entry rules, secure urgent visas or extend existing permits, helping keep documentation in order even when the fog isn’t.
The recurring winter fog has become a strategic planning issue for mobility managers and business-travel coordinators. Multinational employers advised staff to work remotely where feasible and to pad itineraries with extra transit time. Freight forwarders also rescheduled early-morning collections, citing knock-on delays at Jebel Ali Port due to slower road haulage. Although the UAE’s highways and airports are equipped with advanced traffic-management and Category III Instrument Landing Systems, officials reminded residents that safety overrides punctuality. With Ramadan approaching and visitor numbers climbing, authorities said they would maintain stepped-up patrols and dynamic speed controls until the fog season subsides.
