A terrifying dust devil tornado formed next to homes in the United Arab Emirates.

The funnel-shaped weather phenomenon appeared across the sandy dirt path between houses in Abu Dhabi on October 10.

It rotated close to the structures and reached up to 15ft high as it strengthened before disappearing when it hit one of the buildings.

Footage shows the giant white smoke-like vortex moving across the area as a resident watched.

Onlooker Sunshine Delos Santos said: ‘It was the first time that a tiny tornado was seen on our place. It was scary. We thought it would grow bigger.'

No one was reported hurt by the sandy whirlwind and no damages were incurred as well.

Dust devils are a type of whirlwind tornado that form when the sun heats a patch of land and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up, rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris making the spiral visible.