‘Mitigate threat of dust storms’ - Kuwait maintains air quality

08/09/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 8: The Kuwaiti GeoSciences Society called for concerted efforts to maintain air quality, as it is a shared societal environmental responsibility aimed to protect human health and the environment and ensure environmental sustainability, reports Al- Seyassah daily. On the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, celebrated annually on Sept 7, Chairman of the Society Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajri pointed out that the international community selected this day to raise awareness and strengthen partnerships in reducing air pollution to protect public health and the environment. He confirmed that Kuwait is among the countries in the region most affected by dust or sandstorms due to its geographical location and arid desert climate.

He said dry and dust-laden northerly winds affect the country, particularly in late spring and summer. He indicated that the intensity and frequency of these storms increased in recent years due to several factors, such as record-high temperatures, topsoil dryness, and decline in natural vegetation cover. “This makes the country vulnerable to dense dust storms that lead to a sharp deterioration in air quality and, at times, zero horizontal visibility,” he added. He warned about the environmental, health and economic consequences of dust storms. He explained that fine particles suspended in the air, along with pollen and other pollutants, could lead to a remarkable increase in allergies, respiratory problems and asthma.

“They also cause material losses due to sand encroachment and accumulation on highways and vital infrastructure throughout the country,” he added. He pointed out that these storms travel as trans-boundary pollutants, carrying bacteria, fungi, viruses and pollen, as well as industrial pollutants picked up by the storm as it passes over cities, hence, reducing air quality in areas thousands of kilometers away from its point of origin. On the reasons behind the vulnerability of the country to these storms, he cited overgrazing, removal of vegetation cover, and poor water resource management as contributing factors that transform vast areas into new sources of dust that become airborne even with the slightest wind.