A massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, unleashing a wave of travel disruption, widespread safety alerts, and deadly flash floods across the region. The extreme weather event, fueled by powerful winds and unstable atmospheric conditions, swept through the Middle East over the weekend, grounding flights, halting port operations, and forcing emergency evacuations at key landmarks.
Saudi Arabia: Towering dust wall engulfs Al Qassim province
In central Saudi Arabia, residents of Al Qassim province witnessed a rare and dramatic meteorological phenomenon on Sunday. A colossal “wall of dust” surged through the region, reducing visibility to near zero and prompting immediate safety warnings from local and national authorities.
Social media platforms were flooded with videos capturing the spectacle — a thick, orange-hued sky as the massive dust front surged forward like a towering wave, blotting out sunlight and obscuring the landscape.
Meteorologist Abdullah Al Misnad, a former professor at Qassim University, explained that the phenomenon was caused by powerful downdrafts from cumulonimbus clouds. Scientifically categorized as gravity-driven haboobs, these dust walls can reach altitudes of up to 2,000 meters and wind speeds nearing 100 km/h.
“These haboobs generate intense, fast-moving walls of dust capable of severely disrupting transportation and posing significant health hazards due to poor air quality,” Al Misnad noted.
In response, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) issued red alerts across five key regions — including Riyadh and the Eastern Province — forecasting continued dust storms, heavy rainfall, hail, and potential flash flooding.
Authorities urged residents to:
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Remain indoors
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Avoid open areas
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Limit travel, especially on highways and exposed roads
Healthcare providers also issued air quality advisories, warning vulnerable groups such as asthma sufferers and the elderly to take precautions against airborne particulates.
Kuwait: Ports shut down and flights diverted amid Sarayat turbulence
Meanwhile, Kuwait faced its own share of the regional storm system’s fury. Violent winds coupled with thick dust clouds battered the country, forcing aviation and maritime authorities to temporarily suspend operations.
Wind gusts topping 100 km/h reduced visibility in some parts of Kuwait to zero. As a result:
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Two inbound flights from Egypt were diverted to Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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The Kuwait Ports Authority halted activity at both Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports to safeguard workers and infrastructure
Port operations resumed Monday morning as weather conditions improved.
Dharar Al Ali, Kuwait’s acting Director of the Meteorological Department, cautioned that the country is currently in the midst of the Sarayat period — a volatile seasonal transition marked by rapid atmospheric shifts, thunderstorms, and heavy dust.
“During Sarayat, Kuwait typically experiences abrupt changes in weather conditions. Sudden storms and dust events like these are common and can escalate within minutes,” he explained.
Satellite imagery indicated intense regional activity, with scattered rain and dust forecasts extending through midweek.
The Ministry of Interior issued several public safety advisories, urging motorists to:
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Reduce speed
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Maintain safe following distances
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Pull over and wait if visibility drops to zero
Jordan: Petra evacuated as flash floods sweep in
In Jordan, the storm system unleashed erratic and hazardous weather across multiple regions. Intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and dust storms reduced visibility and triggered flash floods in low-lying areas, particularly in the country’s south.
One of the most dramatic incidents unfolded at Petra, Jordan’s iconic archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage landmark. On Sunday, authorities evacuated hundreds of visitors as floodwaters inundated parts of the ancient city.
At the time of the evacuation, over 1,700 tourists were exploring Petra. Emergency protocols were swiftly enacted:
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Ticket sales were suspended by midday
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Key landmarks — including Al Khazneh (The Treasury), the Siq, and the Monastery — were cleared
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Civil Defense teams coordinated safe exits as water levels rose rapidly in narrow canyons
Tragically, the flooding claimed the lives of a Belgian woman and her son, who were part of an adventure tour group in Wadi Al Nakhil, near the southern city of Ma’an. Two of her other children survived the ordeal.
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD) confirmed that search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate any remaining missing persons. Additional incidents were reported in Tafileh and Al Hasa, where tourists and livestock herders became stranded due to rising waters.
“We evacuated most of the tourists without injuries,” said Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of Petra Archaeological Park. “Safety is our top priority.”
Civil Defense authorities have also deployed helicopters, boats, and specialized rescue units to monitor flood-prone valleys and riverbeds throughout the week as heavy rainfall is expected to continue intermittently.
Regional meteorologists warn of ongoing instability
Weather experts across the Middle East have warned that the massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan as part of a broader atmospheric disturbance pattern influenced by:
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Upper-level troughs
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Surface low-pressure systems
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Rapid heating and cooling during the region’s seasonal transition
These conditions have fueled severe convection, producing not only dust storms but also localized thunderstorms and torrential rains.
According to data from the ArabiaWeather platform, satellite observations show persistent cloud formation and dust plume activity over large swathes of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant. Residents in affected regions have been advised to remain vigilant and stay updated with official weather bulletins.
Impact on travel, infrastructure, and daily life
As massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, its consequences have been far-reaching, impacting multiple sectors:
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Air Travel:
Flight delays, diversions, and cancellations disrupted passenger itineraries across airports in Riyadh, Kuwait City, and Amman. -
Maritime Operations:
Temporary suspension of port activities in Kuwait disrupted cargo handling, affecting regional logistics and supply chains. -
Road Transportation:
Poor visibility and slippery roads heightened accident risks on highways, prompting traffic advisories and law enforcement deployment. -
Tourism:
The Petra evacuation and suspension of visitor services dented tourism revenue and raised safety concerns for ongoing adventure and heritage tours. -
Public Health:
Elevated dust levels aggravated respiratory conditions, with hospitals and clinics reporting a spike in patients suffering from asthma attacks, allergic reactions, and eye irritations.
Authorities coordinate emergency responses
Across all three countries, emergency management agencies coordinated large-scale response efforts, including:
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Deploying police and traffic patrols to manage road safety
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Activating medical emergency teams and mobile clinics
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Disseminating public alerts via SMS, social media, and traditional media
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Monitoring vulnerable infrastructure such as power lines, water reservoirs, and drainage systems
In Saudi Arabia, the Civil Defense announced that search and rescue units remain on high alert, especially in flood-prone zones around Riyadh, Dammam, and Al Qassim.
Kuwaiti authorities confirmed that airport and port operations have normalized as of Monday morning, but advised travelers to check with carriers for updated schedules.
Jordan’s Civil Defense continues to patrol archaeological sites and natural reserves, particularly as more rain is forecasted midweek.
Conclusion: A wake-up call for regional climate resilience
The massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan serves as a stark reminder of the growing need for robust climate resilience strategies across the Middle East. With increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, experts emphasize the importance of:
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Early warning systems
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Public education on disaster preparedness
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Infrastructure upgrades to mitigate flash flood risks
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International collaboration on meteorological research
As weather conditions gradually stabilize in the coming days, authorities across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan continue to assess the storm’s long-term impacts and coordinate recovery efforts.
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