Riyadh schools forced to close due to severe sandstorm

All schools in the Riyadh region, including the ones run by expat communities, will remain closed Thursday. The Education Department announced the suspension of schools on April 2 because of a major sandstorm that hit Riyadh on Wednesday. King Saud University’s Badran Al-Omar announced the suspension of classes at the university in Riyadh and its branch in Al-Mazahmiya area. The Education Ministry said on its Twitter account that the Education Department in Al-Kharj also suspended classes in all public schools in Hotat Bani Tamim, Al-Hareeq and Hafr Al-Baten. A ferocious sandstorm blanketed the region hampering visibility and causing traffic snarls on many roads and highways. Several shops in the region downed their shutters early. The Civil Defense has advised all residents in the Riyadh region to avoid going out during the dusty weather. Shaukat Pervez, principal of International Indian School-Riyadh (IISR), told Arab News that the school would be closed for four days beginning Thursday. “The IISR will also be closed on Sunday because of an Indian festival,” he said. All other Saudi and foreign schools in Riyadh and its suburbs like Al-Diriah, Rimah, Muzahmiya, Huraimala and Darma will be closed on Thursday following instructions from the regional office of the Education Ministry. -Arab News