Special Features
Stormy Weekend in Dubai
The Dubai Meteorological Office has forecast a strong possibility for a sandstorm in Dubai all Friday and over the weekend with near gale force winds.Poor visibility is also likely to make driving conditions difficult.
According to the forecast, wind speeds of up to 30 knots are expected to hit UAE’s west and east coasts by the weekend. Boat owners on the west coast have been warned against going out.
Dr S.K. Gupta, the duty forecaster at Dubai Meterological Office, said a very high pressure system is building up over the eastern section of Saudi Arabia and strong north-westerly winds are travelling from Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain to the UAE.
Flights will not be affected by the gale as pilots regularly travel through 130 knot winds at 30,000 feet, said the forecaster. "The visibility will be clear at the airport as there is no open area nearby," said Dr Gupta.
Separately Internet services in the UAE were disrupted Thursday after two cables, 400 metres apart, were cut in the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed a ship’s anchor may have dragged through the cables, severing both.
Etisalat and Du, the two major telecommunications networks, were at pains to maintain services. It is not known when the cable will be repaired, however early reports indicate it could be up to two weeks.
