An intense dust storm common in arid regions is called a haboob. It often appears as a huge advancing wall of dust pushed outward by powerful winds.
Many haboobs form when a thunderstorm’s cold downdraft reaches the ground and spreads outward as a gust front. The wind lifts loose dust and silt from dry soil, producing a rapidly moving cloud that can sharply reduce visibility. Haboobs can also develop along weather fronts, especially in dry climates.
The term comes from the Arabic root haab, meaning “wind” or “blow,” and was originally used for dust storms around Khartoum, Sudan. Haboobs occur across the Middle East, North Africa, Australia, and North America, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. “Sandstorm” is a broader everyday term; a haboob specifically emphasizes a dust storm driven by a strong gust front or similar outflow.