How to Survive a Sandstorm in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia is known for its thick, fierce, dangerous, and sudden sandstorms all around the world. Here are some tips to survive and drive safely during a sandstorm.

Cover your face

The first thing to take care of during a sandstorm in Saudi Arabia is to put on a mask or respirator if easily available to filter out dust particles and avoid breathing difficulties.

If you don’t have a mask or eyewear, just wrap it around a clean piece of cloth for the protection of your face.

Search for high grounds

The Higher density of sand is present near the ground so search for some high spots or peaks where the force of sandy winds will be much lesser. It is a perfect spot if there is no danger of lightning at those peaks.

• Avoid deep ditches, otherwise, in case of flood or rain might fill it up causing a problem for you.
• If there is a camel along with you, sit with it hiding on its side as camels in Saudi Arabia are adapted to these sandstorms.
• Never seek shelter on the leeward side of sand dunes otherwise you might get stuck in piles of sand during the storm.

Be aware of flying objects

Protect yourself from hard flying objects which might hit you. It is better to grab something for your protection. Stay wherever you are and don’t try to move during the storm as it is dangerous. Wait till it ends to move somewhere else.

Drive Safely

During a sandstorm, the visibility level might reduce to Zero. Here are some tips to drive safely.

Don’t stop your vehicle

If you are driving in a sandstorm in Saudi Arabia, it is not recommended to stop your car in the slowest lane unless there is some area away from the road.

You should continue driving. However, it is recommended to reduce your speed, drive in the middle lane and increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Turn on the Hazards

If you are driving in a sandstorm, make sure you turn on all the outer lights of your vehicle including headlights, fog lights, and hazards.

Keep in mind that the visibility level during the sandstorm is too low and it is important to let other vehicles know about your presence so that nobody bumps you.

Keep windows closed

Driving in a Sandstorm could be very dangerous if you keep your windows open as a little dust or sand in your eyes would divert your focus from the road which could be deadly in such a harsh weather condition. 

Don’t smoke

Another safety tip for driving in sandstorms in Saudi Arabia is to avoid smoking in the car. The smoke further blurs the vision and reduces the visibility level which is already low during this time.