Thick morning fog and rising humidity are once again reshaping how the United Arab Emirates moves. From diverted flights and highway speed reductions to shifting visitor expectations, the country’s latest weather pattern is a reminder that even in a destination famous for year-round sunshine, travel can be heavily influenced by moisture in the air and visibility at ground level. For anyone flying into or transiting through the UAE over the coming days, or planning road trips between its major cities, understanding how this humid, fog-prone spell works will be key to keeping itineraries on track.
What Is Driving the UAE’s Humid, Foggy Spell Right Now
In early February 2026, the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has repeatedly flagged the same combination of ingredients: fair to partly cloudy skies, relatively mild daytime temperatures and, crucially, humid nights followed by cool early mornings. This setup encourages condensation close to the surface, allowing fog or thick mist to form, especially in coastal and internal areas. Forecasters have issued successive red and yellow alerts for dense fog, with visibility dropping sharply in the hours before and just after sunrise.
On February 10, residents across Dubai and other emirates woke to thick fog and humid conditions that reduced horizontal visibility and prompted a red alert from the NCM. At the same time, temperatures in the main coastal hubs are forecast to be comfortable, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hovering in the upper 20s Celsius by afternoon, while inland and elevated spots such as Liwa and Jebel Jais experience a wider range from single-digit lows to low 30s Celsius highs. The result is a strong overnight temperature contrast that fuels repeated fog formation.
This pattern is not a one-off event. Over the past week, forecasts have consistently called for humid mornings, the likelihood of mist or fog over coastal, western and internal areas, and occasional light rain in Dubai, Sharjah and northern emirates. The picture that emerges is of a country transitioning between cooler winter conditions and a warming trend, with moisture trapped near the surface. For travellers, that means beautiful, mild afternoons, but potentially disruptive mornings whenever fog settles over airports, highways and ports.
Looking ahead over the next several days, the NCM expects a gradual rise in temperatures and continued humidity at night and early morning. Low clouds are likely to form over eastern areas, and light to moderate winds should keep seas generally slight to moderate in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Yet the probability of fog or mist remains elevated into midweek, particularly over coastal zones and islands, which is where much of the UAE’s tourism and transport infrastructure is concentrated.
How Fog and Humidity Are Disrupting Flights and Airport Operations
Air travel is the most visible area where the UAE’s current weather is having an impact. Earlier this year, dense fog blanketed Dubai and surrounding emirates, causing Dubai Airports and Sharjah International Airport to divert and delay a series of flights. At one point in early January, more than twenty inbound flights to Dubai International and several services into Dubai World Central and Sharjah were diverted or delayed as early morning visibility plunged.
While major UAE airports are equipped with advanced navigation aids and experienced air traffic controllers, safety rules mean that landings and takeoffs must be curtailed or carefully spaced when visibility drops toward zero. Airlines such as Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have already had to adjust schedules and hold aircraft on the ground during the densest fog windows, typically between about 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. Local time. These disruptions often ease by late morning once the fog lifts, but the knock-on effects can linger throughout the day in the form of residual delays and altered connections.
For travellers, the practical implications are clear. If you are flying into or out of the UAE in the early hours over the coming days, allow extra time for potential disruption. Morning arrivals may be diverted to nearby airports or placed into holding patterns until conditions improve, while early departures can see boarding gates go quiet as ground operations are briefly suspended. Passengers on tight connections are particularly vulnerable, especially those linking long-haul flights through Dubai to onward regional services.
Despite these challenges, local authorities and operators tend to restore normal operations quickly once fog dissipates. Airport teams, ground handlers and airlines coordinate closely to re-bank flights, rebook passengers and clear backlogs. Visitors should pay close attention to airline notifications, airport announcements and any revised check-in or boarding times. The overall message is that the system is resilient, but in periods of heavy fog, even the most efficient hub must slow down.
Road Travel: Reduced Speed Limits, Police Alerts and Commuter Delays
On the ground, the most immediate effect of the UAE’s foggy, humid conditions is felt on its extensive highway network. In recent days, police and transport authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have repeatedly reduced speed limits on key routes when visibility drops, sometimes to as low as 80 kilometres per hour. Electronic signboards across major roads flash fog warnings, and variable speed limit systems dynamically adjust to the changing conditions.
These measures are backed by safety campaigns that urge motorists to maintain longer following distances, switch on low-beam headlights and avoid mobile phone use while driving. Law enforcement agencies have even shared crash footage in recent weeks to underline the dangers of speeding into a dense fog bank or changing lanes abruptly. When visibility falls suddenly, pileups can happen quickly, particularly on multi-lane highways where traffic is normally fast-moving.
Commuters report slower journeys into central Dubai and Abu Dhabi on foggy mornings, with congestion building near major interchanges and bridges where localised patches of low visibility force drivers to brake. For travellers relying on taxis, ride-hailing services or hotel transfers, this can translate into longer-than-usual transit times from the airport to hotels, or between cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Tour coaches and intercity buses also exercise extra caution, sometimes adding buffer time to schedules.
For visitors planning to rent a car and explore beyond the main cities, the current weather makes it more important than ever to check conditions before setting out at dawn. Delaying a desert drive or a road trip to mountain areas until mid-morning, when the sun has begun to burn off fog, is advisable. Likewise, those with early tours or golf tee times should be prepared for potential last-minute rescheduling if road visibility drops to unsafe levels.
What This Means for Tourists, Transit Passengers and Business Travellers
Although the recent fog and humidity may unsettle travel plans, they do not fundamentally change the UAE’s appeal as a winter and spring destination. Daytime temperatures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates remain comfortable, often in the high 20s to low 30s Celsius, which many visitors find ideal for outdoor activities. Skies are generally fair to partly cloudy, and when the fog lifts, visibility quickly returns to postcard-perfect levels.
For tourists staying in beachfront resorts or urban hotels, the main adjustment will be around morning schedules. Early-morning dhow cruises, hot-air balloon flights, desert safaris and helicopter sightseeing tours may occasionally be postponed or pushed back to avoid low visibility and to comply with safety protocols. Operators are accustomed to this seasonal pattern and typically communicate changes quickly, offering alternative time slots once conditions improve.
Transit passengers passing through Dubai or Abu Dhabi en route to other destinations should be aware that short connection times during morning fog spells carry extra risk. Those with less flexibility, such as cruise passengers joining ships in Gulf ports or business travellers with same-day meetings in the region, may want to build in a slightly longer buffer between flight arrival and onward commitments. In practice, that can mean arriving a day earlier or avoiding the most fog-prone early-morning arrival banks when booking.
On the positive side, humidity and slightly higher overnight temperatures are comfortable compared to the intense heat and extreme humidity of the UAE’s peak summer months. Outdoor terraces, beach clubs and promenade cafés remain popular throughout the day, and air quality can actually feel fresher once fog lifts, thanks to cooler air masses and recent light rainfall in some areas. With good planning, most travellers will find the impact of the current weather more of an inconvenience than a deterrent.
Practical Planning Tips: Timing, Packing and Itinerary Tweaks
Understanding the rhythm of the current weather pattern is the best way to adapt. Fog and thick mist are most likely between the pre-dawn hours and mid-morning, when the overnight humidity meets cooler surface temperatures. From late morning through the afternoon, skies typically clear, humidity feels less oppressive, and visibility becomes excellent. Travellers can use this daily cycle to their advantage by scheduling outdoor sightseeing, city walking tours and inter-emirate drives for the late morning and afternoon slots.
When booking flights, consider the timing of your arrival and departure. Late-morning or afternoon landings are less likely to be affected by dense fog than those aiming to touch down just after sunrise. If your itinerary does require early-morning flights, build flexibility into your schedule by avoiding tight back-to-back meetings or onward connections in the immediate hours after landing. Travel insurance that covers weather-related delays is also worth considering in this season.
Packing for the UAE during a humid, fog-prone spell is straightforward but benefits from a few thoughtful additions. Light layers remain essential, as mornings can feel cooler in areas where temperatures drop into the mid-teens Celsius, while afternoons warm up quickly. A light jacket or shawl is useful for early outings, especially in desert or mountain excursions, and moisture-wicking fabrics can help you stay comfortable as humidity rises. Footwear with good grip is advisable when pavements or hotel decks are damp after foggy mornings.
Finally, keep your itinerary slightly flexible. Leave room to shuffle activities if a particularly dense fog event coincides with a planned sunrise excursion or an early intercity transfer. Most tour operators, hotels and transport providers in the UAE are well-versed in this seasonal pattern and are generally willing to accommodate last-minute adjustments when safety or visibility is affected by weather.
How Authorities and Travel Operators Are Responding
The UAE’s response to heightened humidity and repeated fog events reflects years of experience managing similar conditions. Meteorological agencies issue detailed daily bulletins that feed directly into the planning of airlines, airports, seaports and road authorities. Red and yellow alerts have become familiar signals for both residents and industry players, prompting pre-emptive measures that range from lowering road speed limits to adjusting runway operations.
Airports coordinate closely with carriers to reroute or delay flights and to manage the flow of passengers through terminals when diversions occur. Advanced runway lighting and instrument landing systems help maintain operations where safe, but authorities consistently prioritise caution over capacity. Meanwhile, ground transport regulators ensure that variable speed limits and roadside message boards update in real time, allowing motorists to adapt as they approach foggy stretches.
Within the tourism and hospitality sector, hotels and tour companies monitor NCM forecasts and local advisories, often adjusting pick-up times or swapping time slots for excursions that depend on clear visibility. Desert camps, balloon operators and helicopter tour providers are particularly sensitive to wind, visibility and cloud cover, and often make go or no-go decisions closer to departure times. Their cooperation with weather agencies helps minimise unnecessary cancellations while keeping safety at the forefront.
These coordinated efforts mean that, even in periods of frequent fog, the UAE continues to function smoothly for most visitors. Travellers who stay informed, follow official guidance and keep communication channels open with airlines and hotels will generally find that disruptions are managed efficiently, with alternatives provided where needed.
Looking Ahead: What Travellers Should Expect Over the Coming Weeks
Forecasts for the coming days suggest the current pattern of humid nights, morning fog risk and mild to warm afternoons will persist, with temperatures gradually creeping upward as the region moves further away from its coolest winter weeks. Morning mist and fog are likely to remain a feature, particularly over coastal and internal areas, while cloud cover will vary and light rain is still possible in some parts of the country.
For travellers with trips booked to the UAE in February and early March, the main considerations will remain timing and flexibility rather than any large-scale disruption. Airports and airlines are already operating with heightened awareness of fog risk, road networks are equipped with variable speed systems, and the travel industry is accustomed to making small daily adjustments to schedules. The probability of region-wide shutdowns or extended disruptions due solely to fog remains low, although individual flights and road journeys may face short delays.
As temperatures continue to rise heading into spring, humidity will stay a defining feature of the UAE’s climate, but its impact will evolve. Morning fog events typically become less frequent as the seasonal shift progresses, while late spring and summer bring a different dynamic of heat and moisture that travellers must adapt to. For now, though, early 2026 is characterised by this specific blend of cool mornings, mild afternoons and transient but sometimes intense fog banks.
Ultimately, the message for travellers is clear: rising humidity and thick fog are shaping how the UAE moves, but they do not need to derail well-planned journeys. With a solid grasp of the local forecast, an eye on early-morning conditions and a willingness to build in a little breathing room, visitors can still experience the country’s skylines, deserts and coastlines in comfort, even as the weather writes its own script across the morning horizon.