UAE affected by dust-laden Al Bareh winds: Official

The country is affected by "Al Bareh winds", which are among the most famous winds among the Arab nationals of the Arabian Peninsula, and are the main prevailing winds in the central and eastern Arabian Peninsula, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society (EAS), and a member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences (AUSAS).

Al Bareh winds are active northwesterly winds blowing during the summer, and characterised by being moderately warm to slightly warm and dry, which may stir up dust in inland desert areas. They also help limit the rise in temperatures at the beginning of summer if they blow along coastal areas.

Al Jarwan explained to Al Khaleej newspaper that these winds differ from the winter winds, which are called "Al Shamal" and bring cold in winter.

In detail, Al Jarwan said that the periods of these winds are divided into 3 main periods: Bareh Al Batin during May, Bareh Al Thuraya or Bareh Al Najm in June, and Bareh Al Jawzaa in July. These become active from mid-May until the end of July, after which the dry heat intensifies and winds called "Al Samoom winds" blow starting from the middle of summer.

"Al Kaus winds" also become active in the second half of summer, and the southeastern monsoon winds blow, which are warm, humid winds that contribute to the formation of clouds and seasonal rainfall over the south and southwest of the Arabian Peninsula.