The fine dust filling the air significantly reduced visibility for motorists and made breathing outside a challenge, as hospitals reported an increase in patients suffering from respiratory problems.
Dramatic images showed the extent of the problem, and Dubai airport officials confirmed that 12 inbound flights had to be diverted to nearby airports.
Dubai is the world's busiest hub for international air traffic after it overtook London Heathrow earlier this year, and authorities warned travellers that further delays and diversions were expected.
In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, police reported that a 24-year-old was airlifted to hospital following a serious road traffic accident caused by the reduced visibility.
Afternoon Metro#DubaiMetro #KhaleejTimes #GulfNews #UAE #sandstorm pic.twitter.com/9pqwNm1pucโ Rahman (@mrmujeebrahman) April 2, 2015
This mornig in #Dubai, just before the #sandstorm. pic.twitter.com/tixqFgdU50โ Luciano Bragalone (@luciano_brag) April 2, 2015
#UAE shrouded in sand from a massive #sandstorm! Picture from @cnnireport @dunjee2 http://t.co/kD1fT3NtAp pic.twitter.com/iUoluMHNLT โ Brandon Miller (@BrandonCNN) April 2, 2015
Airline officials at the man Abu Dhabi airport said flights to Bahrain and Dammam, Saudi Arabia were delayed due to bad weather.
In Qatar, the authorities ordered the closure of all schools due to what officials described as "extreme weather conditions".
Delays were also reported at Hamad International Airport, which opened last year in the Qatari capital, Doha. National carrier Qatar Airways urged passengers to check their flight status online.
The United Arab Emirates' National Center of Meteorology and Seismology issued a general warning reduced visibility.
And there was no more luck for those trying to travel by coach. Dubai's transit authorities stopped bus services to Abu Dhabi, citing "zero visibility" caused by the storm.
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