Winds reached 36mph and blew trees over at Emirates Golf Club, where play has stopped until Saturday, angering some of the 64 players to finish round two.
Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman called the halt "ridiculous", while Ryder Cup player Chris Wood said the decision made the event "one sided".
Tournament director Mike Stewart said the course was "unsafe and unplayable".
Stewart added: "We had TV towers that the roofs were blown off. We had balls moving on the greens - blew into a bunker at one stage. Five trees came down."
There are 65 players, including George Coetzee of South Africa, who leads on nine under, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, a shot behind, who have nine holes or more left to play of round two.
England's Matthew Fitzpatrick (three under par), Danny Willett (one over), Ian Poulter (three under) and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (four under), are all yet to reach halfway in the second round.
Stewart still thinks the tournament will conclude on Sunday as round two will be completed on Saturday with the third round commencing later in the day from a two-tee start.
However, a host of early starters on Friday stressed their frustrations as those set to face the gusts later in the afternoon were spared.
Spain's Pablo Larrazabal - who ended five over after two rounds - said he was "very angry".
South African Immelman, who is set to miss the cut at four over par, wrote on social media: "Suspending play now is ridiculous, half the field played 36 holes in these conditions."
Martin Kaymer of Germany, who is tied for fifth on four under, said: "Hard to understand the difference between the morning play and now, therefore even more surprised about the decision."
Earlier on Friday, 14-time major winner Tiger Woods withdrew from the tournament before the start of round two citing a back spasm.
The 41-year-old American, who only returned to action in December after 15 months out following two back operations, was five over after 18 holes.

The 16-year-old went to Michael Harrington's Grangetown home, in Cardiff, after suspecting him of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, and fatally stabbed the 67-year-old.
He was convicted of manslaughter after being cleared of murder at Cardiff Crown Court.
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies said the case was a "tragedy".
There was never a formal complaint made against Mr Harrington, the court heard.
Sentencing the boy on Friday, the judge told him: "This was a tragedy for you and a tragedy for your family and is something you will live with for the rest of your life.
"You are of positive good character and you genuinely believed that this man had sexually abused (the schoolgirl).
"But you took the law into your own hands and no one has the authority to do that.
"The offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence is justified."
The teenager, who cannot be named, went to Mr Harrington's home on 3 August, stabbing him in his neck and ear with a steak knife.
Mr Harrington died four days later.
The boy claimed he never meant to kill the man, but stabbed him during a struggle with the knife.
Despite his denials, he was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict of 11-1 by the jury.
Players have criticised the European Tour's decision to suspend round two of the Dubai Desert Classic in Abu Dhabi.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A schoolboy who killed a pensioner for allegedly abusing a girl has been given a three-year custodial sentence.