Hot weather is a daily reality in the UAE and the Gulf at large in the summer, but soaring temperatures are not the only potential hazard presented by the outdoor environment.
Air quality often falls below recommended World Health Organisation guidelines, risking both short and long-term health consequences, and effects are often particularly severe at this time of year.
The issue is highlighted by air quality indices, such as those from the air purifier company IQAir, which uses data from several organisations including the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi. In Abu Dhabi for much of this week, the index indicates that the air is “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, with an air quality index (AQI) of between 100 and 150. The AQI is forecast to increase on Monday to 155, categorised simply as “unhealthy”.
Conditions are then forecast to remain "unhealthy for sensitive groups" from Tuesday to Saturday.
In Dubai, things will be slightly better, with the AQI set to remain below 150 in the coming days and to dip under 100 early next week, which represents “moderate” pollution.
In Doha, Qatar, the AQI is set to remain above 150 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it is less severe, remaining under 100 early next week. There are multiple factors causing pollution in the region’s air, according to analysts.
“The main sources of air pollution in the GCC include vehicular emissions, industrial activities, electricity generation, trash burning and dust storms,” said Salman Zafar, who runs a Qatar-based environmental consultancy, EcoMena.
“Anthropogenic and natural sources of air pollution present equal environmental and public health concerns to the region.”
Growing challenge
Environmental organisations are keen to see improvements, with Julien Jreissati, a programme director for Greenpeace Mena, describing air pollution in the Mena region as “an escalating crisis” that is not being adequately addressed.
Whether caused by dust storms or emissions from transport and energy, air pollution was, he said, “deeply tied to our reliance on fossil fuels”.
“Dust storms are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, while our current models for transport and energy remain heavily dependent on polluting fuels like oil and gas,” he said.
A major factor in air quality is the presence of tiny particles or particulate matter, with much of the focus being on those up to 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5).
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The 2023 World Air Quality Report, released earlier this year by IQAir, said that UAE’s average concentration of PM2.5s was 43.0µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre), more than eight times the World Health Organisation’s recommended maximum of 5µg/m3. Several other Gulf nations had lower figures, but not substantially so.
PM2.5s are regarded as particularly harmful, with the US Environmental Protection Agency reporting that they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Long-term health effects include an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease, while research has shown that short-term exposure can lead to higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and respiratory infections.
According to the UAE Air Emissions Inventory Project, which analysed pollution sources caused by people, industry accounted for two-thirds of the country’s PM2.5s, while road transport accounted for about one-fifth. Desalination and power generation were responsible for about three per cent.
Because air quality is affected by dust in the air, which is in turn influenced by meteorological conditions, seasonal patterns are seen.
Seasonal fluctuations
Dr Bassam Mahboub, a pulmonary specialist and head of the Emirates Allergy and Respiratory Society, said that dust storms peaked in March and April when many people with asthma fell ill, and there was another spike during the summer.
“When there is increased humidity there is more concentration of dust and some asthmatic people tend to get worse during the high humidity times,” he said.
“We always, always ask them not to expose themselves to the outside environment and to wear a mask, but also to keep on taking their medication and if they’re not feeling better, to see their doctor.”
Dr Diana Francis, an assistant professor and head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Lab at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that two crucial factors caused dust activity to increase in the summer.
“The soil is very dry, and the atmospheric circulation over the region induced by the African and the Indian monsoons favours high winds near the surface,” she said.
“Additionally, some locally developing clouds produce dust emissions just before the rain.”
In terms of industrial pollution, Dr Francis said that wind generally blew pollutants towards residential areas, although she said that this changed from one season to the next and even during the day, especially because of the circulation of air between land and sea.
While poor air quality in the UAE is partly the result of local pollution sources, what is happening beyond the nation’s borders also has an effect.
“An important part of pollutants found in the UAE’s atmosphere comes from the other countries around the Arabian Gulf due to shamal winds,” Dr Francis said.
Plans in place
In September 2022 the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment launched the UAE National Air Quality Agenda 2031, which aims to ensure that both the public and private sectors take action to cut air pollution.
While the UAE’s rapid development has had an effect in terms of emissions from industry and road transport, for example, one perhaps unexpected bonus is that it appears to have reduced dust levels.
“The UAE is seeing a decrease in dust levels,” Dr Francis said. “Land use land cover studies have shown that more areas have changed from bare soil to built areas or planted ones, which reduces the areas exposed to winds and hence dust emissions.
“Another factor is the increase in rainfall witnessed in recent decades, which reduces dustiness as well.”
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Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
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New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
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Martin Sabbagh profile
Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
Lives: In the UAE
Background: M&A, investment banking
Studied: Corporate finance
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Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
