Five-day national weather watch could slow holiday flights and freight through 29 December

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has placed the entire UAE on a weather watch running from 25–29 December as an upper-level trough drags cool, moisture-laden air across the northern emirates. Forecasts issued on 27 December warn of patchy rain, dense morning fog and night-time lows of 16 °C in Dubai with near-freezing readings on Jebel Jais.

For mobility managers the key concern is visibility: when runway range drops below 550 metres, Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) airports switch to CAT II/III low-visibility procedures that stretch take-off spacing. Historical data show departure banks slipping 20-45 minutes—and on worst-case mornings up to an hour. Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo have already alerted shippers that some perishables could be resequenced, while DHL and Aramex are warning e-commerce clients in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah of 24-hour delivery slips.



On the roads, Dubai Police confirmed rolling 80 km/h limits on key corridors, with full closures possible if fog thickens. That adds 30-60 minutes to the Dubai-Abu Dhabi drive—enough to break tight airport connections and corporate meeting schedules. Hotels across Downtown Dubai report a spike in late check-outs and re-booking enquiries as tourists hedge against potential flight delays.

Corporate travel teams are advising visitors to pad itineraries, pre-register for airline SMS alerts and download the RTA’s Smart Drive app for diversion notices. They are also reminding assignees that the ICP’s online extension facility for 30- and 60-day visit visas can be activated from a smartphone—crucial if expiring documents collide with grounded flights.

While the NCM expects conditions to clear after 29 December, logistics planners warn that any backlog may spill into early-January import cycles, affecting just-in-time inventory at free-zone warehouses. Multinationals should therefore monitor freight priority lists and consider temporary stock buffers for critical parts and high-value goods.