Enhancing Resilience to Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), Arabian Gulf Countries

Arabian Gulf Countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain) experience frequency high-frequency sand and dust storms (SDS). These storms’ intensity, frequency, sources, drivers, and environmental and socioeconomic impacts are remarkably variable. Key development sectors including agriculture and water, transportation, military, tourism, environment, and public health are being threatened by the SDS. In Arabia (3,237,500 km2) significant sources of SDS include Al Empty Quarter (Ruba Al Khali) Sand Sea (503,000 km2), Al Nufud Sand Sea (82,000 km2), Al Dahna Sand Sea (82,500 km2). Local (country-wise) sources of SDS are detected in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Bahrain. The main objective of the current study is to set up risk reduction strategies for SDS in GCC. To realize the study's objective, the following were carried out: 1. collection and analyses of meteorological parameters (wind speed and direction, visibility, and rainfall), 2. identification of the occurrence, frequency, and trends of SDS (1962–2016), 3. identification and characterization of the sources of SDS, 4. risk assessment of SDS (pilot sites), 5. lessons learned from national, and regional experiences and finally identification of the economically feasible and environmentally sound practices for SDS resilience.