By Abbas Nazil
The United Arab Emirates is enduring one of its hottest summers on record, with temperatures nearing historical highs following its warmest-ever spring, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
On August 1, the desert town of Sweihan recorded a staggering 51.8 degrees Celsius, the highest since 2021 and just short of the all-time national record of 52.1 degrees Celsius set in July 2002, also in Sweihan.
This extreme heat continues a trend from April and May, which were both the hottest on record in the UAE.
The NCM attributed the temperature surge to a broader global climate pattern, in which warming trends have pushed average global temperatures more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Inland parts of the UAE experienced daily highs exceeding 50 degrees Celsius throughout June and July, while coastal cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi saw consistent temperatures in the mid-40s.
Forecasters expect August to be hotter than average, with temperatures projected to rise 0.25 to 0.5 degrees Celsius above seasonal norms.
This prolonged heatwave has prompted the NCM to issue public warnings, urging residents to avoid sun exposure and stay indoors during peak daylight hours.
However, such precautions are not always feasible for those working in outdoor environments, including laborers in construction and agriculture, whose daily routines remain exposed to extreme heat.
Tourists and residents alike have expressed concern for these workers.
“We are whining while sitting in the air-condition… they (outdoor labourers) are working actually 24/7 in this heat,” said Yasir Shahad, a visitor from Australia, drawing attention to the human cost of the rising temperatures.
The rising mercury is part of a larger pattern of escalating climate extremes affecting the Gulf region and much of the globe.
Climate scientists have noted that global warming, intensified by greenhouse gas emissions and urban heat island effects, is driving the increase in temperature spikes and prolonging heatwaves.
These climatic shifts pose mounting risks to health, infrastructure, and energy consumption, especially in regions with already high baseline temperatures.
The UAE, like other Gulf nations, relies heavily on air conditioning, leading to surging electricity demands during the summer months, further straining power grids and contributing to emissions.
Efforts are ongoing to adapt to these extremes, including public awareness campaigns, stricter labour laws during peak heat, and technological innovations in cooling systems.
Still, the record-breaking nature of recent weather patterns suggests that mitigation and adaptation efforts will need to accelerate rapidly to cope with future climate volatility.
As temperatures edge ever closer to historic highs, the UAE’s experience offers a stark preview of what a warming world might look like, especially for countries in arid and semi-arid zones.
