What is the Shamal wind, and when should I close my shade?

"We had very strong wind last week and our neighbour's umbrella was damaged. What is the Shamal, and when should we close our umbrella and awning?"

Villa owner, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

The Shamal is the strong north-westerly wind that blows across the UAE and the Gulf, most often in early summer, and it can bring gusts and dust. Close umbrellas and awnings when it is forecast, before dust storms, and at night.

What the Shamal is

"Shamal" means "north" in Arabic. The wind blows from the north-west, down the Gulf, and in the UAE it often comes in strong, gusty spells that can last from a day to several days. It is most common in early summer, and shorter Shamal spells also happen in winter. It often lifts sand and dust, which reduces visibility and settles on everything outside.

Read more about local winds in understanding wind for shading in the UAE.

Why it matters for your shade

Most of the wind damage we see every year is to awnings and umbrellas left open, which get blown over or have their arms bent. Umbrellas and awnings are made for shade, not storms. A strong gust catches an open canopy like a sail: it can bend the arms of an umbrella, tip it over if the base is too light, or damage an awning's arms and fabric. Wind damage is not covered by the warranty, so closing in time protects your shade and your cover.

When to close your shade

• When the wind picks up, even if it is still sunny.
• When a Shamal or dust storm is forecast. Check the UAE National Center of Meteorology forecast or app.
• At night and whenever you go out, so nobody needs to remember during a storm.
• Before rain. Umbrella and awning fabric is water-resistant, but water collecting on the canopy adds a lot of weight.

Let your awning close itself

A Somfy wind sensor closes a motorised awning automatically when the wind shakes it. The Eolis sensor fixes to the awning itself, and the Soliris sensor also opens it again in the sun. Read how the Eolis sensor works. A sensor is a safety backup, not a reason to leave the awning open in bad weather.

Choosing shade for a windy spot

If your garden or terrace is exposed, the right product makes a big difference:

• Umbrellas: Glatz tests its umbrellas in a wind tunnel, and a heavier base or a fixed mounting plate keeps them steady.
• Awnings: Llaza gives every awning a wind class based on its width and projection.
• Shade sails are fixed at every corner, so they can stay up through the Shamal and storms. It is rare for us to see one damaged by wind.

Waterfront homes on Palm Jumeirah, the Jumeirah Islands and Emirates Hills catch more wind than most. See the awning we installed on Palm Jumeirah and the Art Monoblock awning in Emirates Hills. Read shading solutions for windy locations, or ask us which suits your space.