Dust storms are among the most significant environmental challenges in Kurdistan Province, exerting widespread impacts on air quality and public health. This study was conducted using MODIS and Sentinel-5P satellite data and the AOD, AAI, AOD-Sum, and DECM indices over the period 2018–2024. Data processing was performed in the GEE environment, and dust transport pathways were simulated using the HYSPLIT model. wind speed data from the ECMWF model were employed to assess the role of wind in dust dispersion. The mean AOD varied between 0.25 and 0.31, with maximum values recorded in 2018 and 2022 at 0.31 and 0.29, respectively. The AAI increased from 0.01 in 2020 to 0.67 in 2022 and then decreased to 0.41 in 2024. The cumulative AOD-Sum index indicated more than 70 dusty days in 2018 and 127.8 days in 2022. Similarly, the DECM index increased from fewer than 50 dust-event days in 2018 to more than 150 days in 2022, followed by a decline to 65 days in 2024. HYSPLIT model analysis revealed that the primary sources of incoming dust were the Al-Anbar deserts of Iraq, dust intrusion from Saudi Arabia, and the Sukhnah Desert in Syria. Dust particles formed at altitudes of approximately 1000–2500 m and entered Kurdistan Province after descending to below 500 m. More than 90% of the transport pathways crossed the Iran–Iraq border, with the Kurdistan and Ilam border regions identified as the main dust entry corridors. Wind speed analysis showed that winds in the eastern part of the province ranged from 3.2 to 3.4 m s⁻¹, while wind speeds in the western regions were below 1.1 m s⁻¹. The peak dust conditions in 2022 coincided with wind speeds of 3.4 m s⁻¹, confirming the direct role of strong winds in intensifying dust events. In addition, soil erosion, vegetation degradation, and the topographic characteristics of the eastern province contributed to dust intensification, indicating that dust pollution in Kurdistan Province is not solely driven by external sources and that local dust sources also play a significant role