London Calling? Sudden Fog Leaves Dubai Netizens Confused and Captivated

For a city famous for its eternal sunshine and desert heat, Dubai woke up this week to a scene that felt less like the Arabian Gulf and more like the banks of the River Thames. A sudden, dense blanket of fog rolled across the UAE on November 20 and 21, transforming the glitzy metropolis into a moody, monochrome landscape. The shift was so dramatic that it sent social media into a frenzy, with one prevailing sentiment echoing across platforms: “Did I just wake up in London?”

The "Londonification" of Dubai

As residents pulled back their curtains, the usual sharp contrast of blue skies and steel skyscrapers was gone. In its place was a thick, grey mist that diffused the morning light and dropped temperatures, creating a chilly, damp atmosphere reminiscent of a British autumn morning.

Social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram were immediately flooded with videos and memes. One viral post by a resident in Dubai Marina captioned a video of their greyed-out balcony view with, "Woke up in Dubai feeling like I got dropped into London by mistake. Fog everywhere."

The comparison wasn't just about the lack of visibility; it was the "vibe." The fog softened the city's futuristic edge, giving it a quieter, more melancholic feel that many associated with European winters. For expats missing home or those simply tired of the heat, the "London feel" was a welcome, albeit confusing, surprise. "I put the kettle on and pretended it was 8 degrees outside," joked another user on TikTok, filming the whiteout from their high-rise apartment.

The Case of the Missing Burj Khalifa

The most trending topic of the event, however, was the disappearance of the world’s tallest building. The Burj Khalifa,usually the anchor of the Dubai skyline, was completely swallowed by the low-hanging clouds.

The phrase "Burj Khalifa missing" began trending locally as users posted comedic "missing person" posters for the skyscraper. At ground level in Downtown Dubai, tourists who had booked early morning tickets to the observation decks found themselves standing in a white void, unable to see the top of the tower they were about to ascend. This surreal imagery added to the "London" narrative—drawing comparisons to The Shard disappearing into the mist on a gloomy UK morning.

The Reality Check: Gridlock and Delays

While the "London mood" was romanticized online, the reality on the ground was far more chaotic. The dense fog prompted the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) to issue immediate Red and Yellow alerts, warning that horizontal visibility had dropped to less than 50 meters in some coastal and internal areas.

The experience quickly turned into a commuter's nightmare. Sheikh Zayed Road, the city's main artery, saw traffic slow to a crawl. The Dubai Police acted swiftly, activating the smart traffic systems to reduce speed limits to 80 km/h on major highways to prevent pile-ups—a system that flashes warnings to drivers who might otherwise be driving at the usual 120 km/h.

The impact extended to the skies as well. Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest international hub, faced significant disruption. Several incoming flights were diverted to neighboring airports, and departures faced delays as air traffic control increased the safety spacing between aircraft. For travelers stuck on the tarmac, the comparison to London Heathrow's famous fog delays felt a little too real.

A Fleeting Winter Wonderland

Meteorologists explain that this specific event was caused by high humidity levels from the Arabian Gulf meeting the rapidly cooling land surface overnight—a classic recipe for radiation fog. While common in the UAE's transition seasons,the intensity and density of this week's fog were notably higher than average.

By late morning, the strong desert sun had begun to burn off the mist, revealing the skyscrapers once again and returning the city to its familiar, sunny self. But for a few hours, Dubai successfully tricked its residents into believing they had been transported 3,000 miles away to a foggy London morning, proving that even the desert has a few atmospheric tricks up its sleeve.