The United Arab Emirates set a new temperature record for the month of May for the second consecutive day, reaching 51.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, just shy of the country’s all-time high.
According to the National Center of Meteorology, the temperature peaked at 51.6C in Sweihan, located in Al Ain, at 13:45 local time (0945 GMT), only 0.4C below the highest temperature ever recorded in the nation.
The meteorological authority informed AFP that the highest documented temperature in the UAE since official records began in 2003 was a scorching 52C on Al Yasat Island, Abu Dhabi, in 2010.
The UAE, a leading exporter of oil globally, is situated in one of the hottest areas on Earth and is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
The temperature in Sweihan exceeded 50.4C recorded in Abu Dhabi the previous day, breaking the former May record of 50.2C set in 2009, as reported by the meteorological agency.
In Dubai, where temperatures reached the mid-40s Celsius, drivers reported that their car air conditioning systems were struggling against the intense heat, expressing surprise at such high temperatures so early in the year.
Despite the heat, residents of Dubai continued with their daily activities, some using parasols for shade, while vendors selling water and fresh juices benefitted from increased foot traffic.
As the host of the COP28 climate negotiations in 2023, the UAE recently finished a record-breaking April with an average daily high temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius.
– Escalating Heat –
Research indicates that repeated heatwaves are a significant indicator of global warming trends, and these extreme weather events are expected to become more prevalent, prolonged, and severe.
The incidence of extremely hot days has nearly doubled globally over the past 30 years.
Outdoor workers in Arab nations face some of the highest levels of heat exposure, with 83.6 percent reporting excessive heat stress while on the job, according to a 2024 report by the International Labour Organization, a UN agency.
The dangers posed by a warming climate were tragically highlighted last June when over 1,300 individuals lost their lives during the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in neighboring Saudi Arabia, with most casualties being unauthorized pilgrims exposed to prolonged outdoor conditions.
A 2022 Greenpeace report identified the Middle East as being at a significant risk of both water and food shortages, as well as extreme heat waves, as a consequence of climate change.
This report, which examined six countries including the UAE, found that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, rendering its food and water resources “extremely vulnerable” to climate change.
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