Sandstorm blankets several Middle Eastern countries

From northern Syria to Iraq through Saudi Arabia, a sandstorm reached the UAE lands, whose government on Wednesday warned the residents of its danger, especially as it caused about nine casualties in northern Syria and caused closures and hospitalizations in other areas.
Standstorms that have been going on for days have disrupted flights, closed schools, and brought thousands of people to hospitals in different parts of the Middle East, in a phenomenon that is likely to get worse in the coming years.
The severe weather caused by the strong winds, known as Shamal winds in the Gulf, has led many governments to take proactive measures.  Residents posted pictures and videos on social media showing dust and lack of vision, even World’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai was not visible.
Burj Khalifa skyscraper hit by dust storm, in Dubai pic.twitter.com/EGLigvcQeT — Captain Singh, FICArb, 73K (@captsingh) May 18, 2022 On Wednesday, the UAE authorities issued a warning of dust storms and urged residents to remain vigilant as the Gulf state is exposed to a storm, like other countries in the region, which has caused closures and hospitalizations.
#تنبيه #تنبيه_الغبار #المركز_الوطني_للأرصاد #Alert #Dust_Alert #NCM pic.twitter.com/AmZupSqvel — المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@NCMS_media) May 18, 2022 Dust and lack of visibility have fallen on Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran, in an interrelated phenomenon that experts attribute to climate change, lack of rain and desertification.