The United Arab Emirates has set a new temperature record for May for the second consecutive day, registering 51.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, nearing the all-time high for the nation.
The National Center of Meteorology reported, “The highest temperature recorded today reached 51.6C in Sweihan (Al Ain) at 13:45 UAE local time (0945 GMT),” just 0.4C below the highest temperature ever documented in the Gulf country.
According to the National Center, the peak temperature of 52C was recorded on Abu Dhabi’s Al Yasat Island in 2010, marking the highest since records began in 2003.
The UAE, a leading global oil exporter, is situated in one of the hottest areas on Earth and is particularly at risk from the impacts of climate change.
The temperature recorded in Sweihan—located 97 kilometers (60 miles) from Abu Dhabi—along with the previous day’s temperature of 50.4C in the Emirati capital, surpassed the former May record of 50.2 degrees set in 2009.
In Dubai, where temperatures reached the mid-40s, drivers expressed concerns that their car air conditioning systems were struggling against the intense heat, surprised by the early onset of such high temperatures this year.
Despite the heat, residents in Dubai continued their daily activities—some equipped with umbrellas—while vendors selling water and local juices seemed to experience an increase in customers.
As the host for the COP28 climate discussions in 2023, the UAE has just come off a record-setting April, with an average daily high of 42.6 degrees Celsius.
– Extreme Hot Days –
Research indicates that persistent heatwaves are a definitive sign of global warming, and these events are expected to grow in frequency, duration, and intensity.
Globally, the number of extremely hot days has almost doubled over the past thirty years.
Outdoor workers in Arab nations encounter some of the highest instances of heat stress worldwide, with a report from the International Labour Organization stating that 83.6 percent of these workers experience excessive heat exposure on the job.
The dangers posed by a warming climate became painfully apparent last June when over 1,300 individuals died while participating in the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in neighboring Saudi Arabia, according to official figures—many of whom were unauthorized pilgrims facing long periods outdoors.
A study conducted by Greenpeace in 2022 highlighted that the Middle East is highly susceptible to water and food shortages, alongside extreme heatwaves due to climate change.
The analysis, which included six countries such as the UAE, revealed that this region is heating nearly twice as quickly as the global average, rendering its food and water resources “extremely vulnerable” to climate impacts.