Tanker movements in and out of the UAE's Jebel Ali port were stopped early Sunday as strong winds caused a thick sandstorm, an official at the port said on Sunday.

"Tanker traffic has stopped, since 2 am last night," the official said, adding the sandstorm had reduced visibility.

Jebel Ali port in the emirate of Dubai is a major oil blending center for clean petroleum products such as jet fuel and diesel.

Oil tanker traffic at Ruwais Petroleum Port, about 220 km west of Abu Dhabi and home to a major refinery, was running normally Sunday morning, a shipping agency official said.

Tanker traffic at the crude oil terminal at Jebel Dhanna was also running normally early Sunday, he said.  -Reuters