Sandstorm

Dubai has been under a cloud for the last couple of days as a heavy sandstorm has swept through over the past few days. Buildings that I can usually see clearly from work have disappeared, the photo above was taken from the roof of my building, and it gives you an idea of how thick the cloud has been. The sand isn't gritty like beach sand but is more like a fine dust. The wind sweeps it across the roads, sometimes forming little dust devils (willywillys if you're Australian). The sand banks up against the kerbs and when the wind blows across the surface it forms interesting wave shapes so they look like miniature sand dunes. The heavy cloud of sand makes the light seem strange. We went to the Boat Show this evening and the light was almost eerie. The cloud was so low that the light from the spotlights was reflecting off the cloud in a strange vaguely sci-fi way. The wind and the swirling sand makes life hell for Dubai's contact lens wearers too (I'm one of them). I think the only answer is to wear swimming goggles all day. I could paint them in fashion colours and then stick faux jewels on them a la Dame Edna.
The traditional Arabic mens' headdress the keffiyeh (called a gutra in the Gulf) comes into its own in this weather as it can be wrapped around the head to provide protection for the nose and mouth. The gutra is worn over a skull cap with a black band called an argul over the top. Most local men in the Gulf wear white gutras, the red/white checked ones are mostly worn by Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian men. The black/white checked gutras are commonly identified with Yasser Arafat though wearing a black/white one doesn't necessarily mean the wearer is Palestinian, its just a colour choice.