Abu Dhabi cuts speed limits to 80km/h as dense fog reduces visibility
In short
Abu Dhabi Police reduced speed limits to 80km/h on several main roads as dense fog cut visibility in the emirate, with measures reported on Monday and again on Wednesday. The caps were lifted shortly after 8am on Tuesday, police said, and the National Centre of Meteorology expects further mist and fog until at least Saturday.
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Abu Dhabi Police cut speed limits to 80km/h on several key roads during morning fog this week, with the restrictions reported on Monday and again on Wednesday and lifted in between on Tuesday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
On Monday, Gulf News reported that Abu Dhabi Police had activated temporary 80km/h limits on two roads as fog reduced visibility in parts of the emirate: Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Road between Al Hayer and Masakin, and Taf Road between Al Sad and Suwayhan. Motorists were urged to follow the limits displayed on electronic signs and to drive carefully where visibility was reduced. The National Centre of Meteorology forecast fog or mist over some coastal and inland areas overnight and into Tuesday morning as humidity rose, with clouds developing over eastern areas in the afternoon and daytime temperatures reaching up to 42°C. [ 1 ]
Dense fog returned on Tuesday morning, and police again reduced limits to 80km/h on key routes, Gulf News reported. The restrictions were lifted shortly after 8am, with Abu Dhabi Police saying in a social media message at 8.15am that “Speed limits on all the external roads of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are now back to normal.” The National reported that the NCM had issued an alert over the conditions and urged people to exercise caution, and that its latest five-day bulletin pointed to further mist and fog until at least Saturday. [ 2 , 3 ]
On Wednesday morning, The National reported that a weather warning was issued as thick fog covered skies across the Emirates and that police reduced limits to 80kph on a number of roads. Those included stretches of the E11, described as the main transport link between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road, as well as Sheikh Salem bint Buti Road and Ahmed Khamis Al-Hamli Road. Drivers received safety alerts on their mobile phones during the morning commute notifying them of the cap. The NCM issued a yellow alert for fog and a more severe red alert covering parts of Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. Arabian Business reported the same 80kph reduction. [ 4 , 5 ]
The National said Abu Dhabi Police began enforcing the 80kph limit during bad weather — including heavy rain, sandstorms and fog — in April 2019, after the Department of Transport’s traffic safety committee approved a plan to reduce speeds in poor conditions. Temporary limits are posted on electronic signboards and announced on social media. Motorists who fail to observe the revised limits face penalties: a Dh300 ($81.6) fine for exceeding the limit by up to 10kph, doubled for breaches of no more than 20kph, and a Dh3,000 fine plus 60-day vehicle seizure for exceeding it by more than 80kph. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The temporary caps affect commuters on external routes including the main link between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and drivers who exceed the reduced limits face fines. The NCM expects foggy conditions to persist for several days, so further speed restrictions and safety alerts are likely.
Key facts
- Abu Dhabi Police activated temporary 80km/h speed limits on two roads, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Road between Al Hayer and Masakin and Taf Road between Al Sad and Suwayhan, as fog reduced visibility. [ 1 ]
- On Wednesday morning police reduced speed limits to 80kph on stretches of the E11, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road, Sheikh Salem bint Buti Road and Ahmed Khamis Al-Hamli Road. [ 4 ]
- Abu Dhabi Police said at 8.15am on Tuesday that speed limits on all external roads of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were back to normal. [ 3 ]
- The National Centre of Meteorology said further mist and fog formations were expected until at least Saturday. [ 3 ]
- The NCM issued a yellow alert for fog and a more severe red alert covering parts of Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates, according to The National. [ 4 ]
- Drivers received safety alerts on their mobile phones during the Wednesday morning commute, notifying them of the 80kph cap. [ 4 ]
- Temporary speed limits are posted on electronic signboards and announced on social media; the scheme began in April 2019 after approval by the Department of Transport’s traffic safety committee. [ 3 ]
- Police impose a Dh300 ($81.6) fine for exceeding the speed limit by up to 10kph, doubled for breaches of no more than 20kph, and a Dh3,000 fine plus 60-day vehicle seizure for exceeding it by more than 80kph. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the Monday and Wednesday speed reductions were part of the same continuous fog episode or separate incidents. Each outlet reports a single morning’s restrictions, and no document states the measures ran continuously across the three days.
- The exact stretches of road covered by the Wednesday restrictions. Only The National’s summary lists the roads, and it is the single source for the E11, Abu Dhabi-Al Ain Road, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed International Road, Sheikh Salem bint Buti Road and Ahmed Khamis Al-Hamli Road.
- How long the Wednesday speed caps remained in force. The documents say the reductions were imposed on Wednesday morning but do not state when or whether they were lifted.
- The temporary speed limits were lifted on Tuesday morning, with police saying external roads were back to normal at 8.15am. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gulf News reports Abu Dhabi Police activated temporary 80km/h limits on Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan Road between Al Hayer and Masakin, and on Taf Road between Al Sad and Suwayhan. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News reports dense fog in Abu Dhabi and speed limits cut to 80km/h on major roads. [ 2 ]
- Abu Dhabi Police say in a social media message that speed limits on all external roads of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are back to normal. [ 3 ]
- The National reports the temporary speed limit caps were lifted shortly after 8am. [ 3 ]
- The National reports a fog alert on Wednesday morning and 80kph limits on several key routes, with mobile safety alerts sent to drivers. [ 4 ]
- Arabian Business reports Abu Dhabi reduced speed limits to 80kph as a safety measure because of dense fog. [ 5 ]