The UAE is preparing for a warm and muggy Eid Al Adha holiday, with potential rainfall in certain areas providing a break from the heat.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicts that temperatures will peak at 35ºC in Abu Dhabi and 36ºC on Arafat Day, which marks the beginning of a four-day holiday in the Emirates.
On the first day of Eid Al Adha, expected to be Friday, temperatures in the capital will rise to 37ºC while Dubai remains steady at 36ºC.
According to the NCM, a notable increase in temperatures is anticipated throughout the Eid Al Adha weekend, with highs reaching 38ºC in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and soaring to 40ºC on Sunday.
Dubai will see temperatures of 37ºC on Saturday and 39ºC on Sunday.
Humidity levels are forecasted to peak between 80% and 85% in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Friday but are expected to decline as the holiday progresses.
Eid Al Adha is taking place as the UAE approaches the summer season, having already experienced unusually high temperatures in recent weeks.
The region had its hottest recorded months of April and May, though early June has brought slightly cooler conditions.
A forecaster from the NCM remarked on Tuesday that the average maximum temperature for May was recorded at 40.4ºC, a stark contrast to the average maximum from 2003 to 2022, which stands at 39.2ºC. The average temperature for May was noted at 33.2ºC, surpassing the historical average of 32.2ºC.
Rainfall Expected
Residents traveling to the Northern Emirates during the holiday weekend can anticipate high temperatures alongside a chance of rain.
The NCM’s online weather map indicates rain is likely for areas including Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, as well as Al Ain, during Saturday and Sunday.
In Ras Al Khaimah, maximum daytime temperatures are expected to stay around 39ºC from Thursday through Sunday.
Fujairah’s temperatures are anticipated to hover around 40ºC, with the rain on Sunday likely resulting in a drop to about 34ºC.
As the holiday concludes, temperatures are set to rise again on Monday as both public and private sector employees return to work.
The NCM forecasts Abu Dhabi will experience peak temperatures of 43ºC on that day.
Dubai is also expected to see high temperatures, reaching up to 40ºC on the same day.