Tanker operations at the United Arab Emirates' Jebel Ali port were suspended due to a sandstorm on Monday, an official at the port operator said.

'The port is closed since 1645 (1245 GMT) due to lack of visibility and strong winds,' he said, adding that he could not say when the port would be reopened.

Jebel Ali in Dubai and is a major oil blending centre for clean petroleum products such as jet fuel and diesel.

Other major ports of UAE, Fujairah and Mina Zayed at Abu Dhabi were operating normally, port sources said.-Reuters