What is causing the record high temperatures in the UAE?
The UAE is experiencing record breaking heat this month, with residents facing temperatures in excess of 50°C, according to the National Centre of Meteorology.
Sweltering heat recorded in Sweihan recently at 51.6°C has smashed the record for the highest temperature in the month of May in the UAE, which was reported the previous day when it reached 50.4°C in Abu Dhabi emirate.
Before then, the peak for the month was 50.2°C in 2009.
The National Centre of Meteorology has in recent days reminded the public to drink lots of fluids, avoid direct exposure to the sun, ensure children are not left in cars and also to make sure pets have plenty to drink.
Here, we look at the record temperatures and consider what factors could be behind them.
What temperature records have been broken?
Saturday was the second record-breaking day in a row, with the UAE having past its all-time record for May on Friday, when a temperature of 50.4°C was reached in Abu Dhabi.
The extreme temperatures are more akin to what might be expected at the height of summer, which does not officially begin until June 21.
Saturday's record was barely shy of the highest reported temperature for any time of year since records began more than two decades ago. That peak was set in Al Yasat Island in Abu Dhabi emirate in 2010, when thermometers reached a sizzling 52°C.
This month's record temperatures come hot on the heels of the UAE recording its warmest April, with the average high last month being 42.6°C.
'The new thing about these conditions is that they are happening really too early, before even the official start of the summer season. The second element is how extreme they are compared to the record,' said Dr Diana Francis, an assistant professor and head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (Engeos) lab at Khalifa University.
How is climate change affecting the region?
Climate change may be playing a role in both the UAE's record temperatures as well as the region's escalating weather, especially given that previous research has indicated the gulf is heating up especially quickly.
Campaign group Greenpeace MENA is drawing awareness to the issue, after temperatures in Kuwait remained close to 50°C throughout the week, Morocco issued an official heatwave alert for several provinces, and Iraq and Egypt grappled with an intense increase in temperature.
"These conditions are no longer rare; they are the new normal in a region heating at nearly twice the global average. These extreme temperatures have arrived earlier than ever, as Hajj season is about to start," said regional campaigns lead, Kenzie Azmi.
"Even though our region is not historically responsible for the problem, we are among those suffering the most."
In 2022, Greenpeace published a report, Living on the Edge: The Implications of Climate Change for Six Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region, which stated temperatures were 'warming nearly twice as fast as the global average'.
At the time the report was released, Kathryn Miller, a science consultant for Greenpeace Research Laboratories, said that, while there was 'considerable variability in weather patterns year on year', a trend had become evident in the Mena region. 'It's now clear that the region as a whole is warming fast, with an accelerated rate of 0.4°C per decade since the 1980s,' she said.
Climate analysts in the UAE have said this year that summer in the country now lasts about 10 days longer than it used to. It is forecast in future to last for about half the year.
'What we are seeing is in line with our findings showing longer summers to be expected under global warming,' Dr Francis said. 'This shift in season duration can be exacerbated by a short heatwave induced by changes to the general circulation due to global warming.
'We have to wait and see if what we are witnessing currently in the UAE is a heatwave on top of the increase in global average temperatures due to excessive greenhouse gases.'
Are other factors having an effect?
A climatic effect called the Arabian Heat Low, typically experienced in summer, is partly responsible for the ultra-high temperatures in Sweihan, Dr Francis said.
She said the ending in 2024 of El Nino, a warm period caused by changes to water circulation in the Pacific Ocean, had brought 'the level of rain in the UAE to almost zero in 2025'.
'With dry soil during the whole spring, like in the case of Sweihan, the development of the summer weather feature responsible for heat, called the Arabian Heat Low, came early this year,' she said.
'It is now well developed and in intensity resembles an AHL of a July month, not May, hence the temperatures are resembling July, too.'
Feeling the heat in Sweihan
Sweihan is no stranger to extreme heat, with the town having recorded a sweltering temperature of 51.8°C in June 2021.
In response to the conditions, one long-time resident, Syrian citizen Tareef Otham, told The National at the time that being outside 'felt like I was inside an oven'.
Being inland is one reason why Sweihan is especially likely to face extremes of temperature. Land heats up faster than the sea, so being further from the coast means that the Arabian Gulf has less of a moderating influence on the temperature. Coastal cities tend to be marginally cooler than those inland, although they can be more uncomfortable because of higher levels of humidity.
By contrast, during the winter, inland areas are often cooler than coastal regions, because the sea is typically warmer than the land during colder times of the year, as it has not cooled down so fast.
Are recent temperatures close to world records?
While Sweihan has been facing temperatures that are very hot even for the Gulf region, the peaks remain significantly short of world beating.
The highest temperature recorded on Earth was 56.7°C in Death Valley in the US on July 10, 1913, according to Guinness World Records. It states that some climatologists 'have cast doubt' on this result, although it remains the official record. In recent years, temperatures of 54.4°C have been recorded twice at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre in Death Valley.
A temperature of 58°C was recorded in Al Azizia in Libya in 1922, although that result was discredited by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2012. It said the figure may have been inflated because, for example, it was recorded near an asphalt-like surface that heats up faster than the desert soil.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
38 minutes ago
- Zawya
Diabetes Mobile Unit recognised with honourable mention from prestigious Global University Network
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain is pleased to announce that the Diabetes Mobile Unit has received an Honourable Mention from the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and the MacJannet Foundation in recognition of the outstanding contribution of this initiative to community health engagement and student leadership. The Diabetes Mobile Unit is a long-standing, collaborative initiative between the RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, the Bahrain Diabetes Society and the Rotary Club of Manama, with the valued support of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. It aims at promoting public health in the Kingdom of Bahrain through a multi-sectoral approach encompassing education, research, and community outreach. Launched in 2012, the programme has empowered over 7,700 children from schools affiliated with the Ministry of Education across the Kingdom of Bahrain with improved health literacy, awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and diabetes prevention strategies. It also serves as a dynamic platform for preparing our medical and nursing students as future leaders in health promotion. The MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, administered by the Talloires Network and the MacJannet Foundation, celebrates university initiatives that exemplify civic engagement and social responsibility. The Honourable Mention places RCSI Medical University of Bahrain among a select group of global institutions recognised for innovative community initiatives that strengthen the role of higher education in addressing societal challenges. Professor Kathryn Strachan, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Community Engagement Lead at RCSI Bahrain, commented: 'As a University deeply committed to shaping a more sustainable and equitable future for all, we are very grateful to the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and the MacJannet Foundation for recognising the Diabetes Mobile Unit with an Honourable Mention. This joint initiative is a prime example of successful partnership between public and private institutions in tackling global health challenges, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes at the community level. We look forward to expanding this impactful programme further and empowering more families in the Kingdom of Bahrain with the knowledge and tools to improve their health outcomes.' The Talloires Network of Engaged Universities is a global coalition of 443 universities in 91 countries, united in their commitment to developing socially responsible student leaders who engage meaningfully with their communities. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain remains committed to advancing healthcare education, research, and community service through strategic partnerships in the Kingdom of Bahrain and beyond. For more information, please visit About RCSI Medical University of Bahrain RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is a constituent university of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), which was established in Dublin, Ireland, in 1784. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, an independent private university, opened its doors to a cohort of 28 medical students in 2004. Today, the purpose-built campus is home to a student body of more than 1,600 across the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery and Postgraduate Studies and Research. It is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. For more information, please visit
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Ministry of Health and Prevention organises three-day training workshop for Longevity Ambassador Programme
Workshop supports the Ministry's vision to build a health-conscious society through empowerment and proactive prevention The initiative encourages middle-aged individuals to adopt and promote healthy lifestyles H.E. Dr. Al Rand: The initiative supports the Ministry's strategic goal of building a proactive healthcare model UAE, Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention has organised a three-day training workshop for the Longevity Ambassadors Programme, bringing together a select group of middle-aged individuals from across the emirates. The participants were chosen for their potential to become influential advocates in promoting a culture of health that supports quality of life as people age. The initiative aligns with the Ministry's strategy to promote public health by fostering a preventive, informed, and health-conscious society. Promoting Prevention and Healthy Living Held at the Ministry's headquarters in Dubai, the workshop is part of MoHAP's efforts to build a health-conscious and prevention-focused society. It supports national policies and initiatives aimed at empowering individuals to take charge of their health, including the National Policy to Promote Healthy Lifestyles, family and elderly health programmes, and national plans for creating a sustainable preventive health model. Longevity Ambassadors The " Longevity Ambassadors Programme" is an innovative initiative launched by MoHAP to raise community awareness about the importance of adopting healthy, sustainable lifestyles as well as to reinforce the values of healthy ageing. Through hands-on training, participants, many of whom are amateur athletes and respected community figures, are equipped to act as ambassadors within their emirates. These ambassadors will play a vital role in Ministry-led awareness campaigns, providing living examples of active and healthy ageing, and take part in community and sporting events that emphasise longevity and quality of life. The current group of Longevity Ambassadors includes Sheikh Mohammed Al Qasimi, Youssef Al Qaywani, Saeed Zarif Al Shamsi, Saeed Al Maamari, Hamid Bouajil Al Shamsi, Ahmed Al Marzouqi, Sari Al Sheikh Al Najari, and Sultan Mohammed Al Obaidli. Promoting Healthy Lifestyles This training falls within a comprehensive framework designed to promote health awareness, build leadership and communication skills, and empower participants to take an active role in awareness campaigns and community initiatives organised by the Ministry in collaboration with its partners. The programme seeks to enhance health education across all segments of society, encouraging individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles by following the positive example set by the ambassadors. It also seeks to strengthen community partnerships between government entities and civil society in line with the national health agenda, the National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031 and the ' We the UAE 2031 ' vision. Scientific Sessions The workshop included 18 scientific and interactive sessions delivered by 14 experts from health authorities, academic institutions, and community organisations. The sessions addressed a wide range of topics related to physical, psychological, and behavioural health during ageing. The event also focused on developing the ambassadors' communication and leadership skills, equipping them to serve as influential community figures. Training focused on three key areas: evidence-based health education, sustainable community empowerment, and psychological and skill development. Community involvement His Excellency Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, emphasised that the 'Longevity Ambassadors' initiative represents a tangible application of the Ministry's strategic vision to shift toward a proactive healthcare model, one that prioritises community engagement and comprehensive prevention. Al Rand noted that empowering individuals to actively contribute to improving public health is a deliberate and forward-looking approach aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the national health system. 'This initiative supports the balance between population growth and the increasing burden of age-related chronic diseases,' he said, adding that it is established on scientific principles aligned with the national framework for healthy ageing. For her part, Dr. Suad Al Awar, Head of the Family Health Department at the Ministry, noted that the workshop has witnessed a strong sense of commitment and enthusiasm among participants, a promising sign for building future community health leaders equipped to champion wellness initiatives. She stressed that investing in people is fundamental to building a resilient health system. Dr. Al Awar added that involving this age group lends the initiative greater depth, drawing on their wisdom, experience, and capacity to create real community impact. Their participation, she said, is key to improving health outcomes and cultivating a culture that views ageing as a phase of continued activity, productivity, and social contribution, in line with the UAE's vision of social and health sustainability. -Ends-
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia launches first biotech accelerator program at BIO 2025 in Boston
BOSTON – Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has unveiled its first national biotech accelerator program at the BIO International Convention 2025 in Boston, marking a major step in the Kingdom's efforts to drive innovation and foster global collaboration in the life sciences sector. Developed in partnership with US-based BioLabs, the program aims to support emerging Saudi biotech startups by providing access to advanced laboratories, expert mentorship, and international research networks. The initiative is the first BioLabs collaboration in the Middle East and will run over a seven-month period, offering structured tracks to help startups scale and commercialize cutting-edge solutions. The program aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the National Biotechnology Strategy, which seek to position the Kingdom as a regional leader in biotech innovation, enhance health outcomes, and diversify the economy through knowledge-based sectors. By launching the accelerator at one of the world's most influential biotech gatherings, Saudi Arabia is signaling its commitment to becoming a hub for biotechnology research, talent development, and investment. The initiative also supports the broader Health Sector Transformation Program, which is focused on modernizing healthcare services and promoting the development of high-impact technologies across the Kingdom.
