UAE Records 51.6°C, Breaking May Temperature Record Amid Climate Concerns

In the village of Sweihan, which is about 97 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, the temperature reached 51.6°C, the highest May temperature ever recorded in the United Arab Emirates. The nation's all-time high temperature of 52°C, set on Al Yasat Island in 2010, is only 0.4°C away from today's second straight day of record-breaking heat for the month.

The exceptional temperature was recorded on Saturday at 13:45 UAE local time, according to confirmation from the National Center of Meteorology. Abu Dhabi's capital city had previously experienced a new May high of 50.4°C the day before, breaking the previous May record of 50.2°C set in 2009.

Daily life has been interrupted by the extreme heat wave, which reached daytime highs in the mid-40°C range in places like Dubai. Residents complained that the air conditioning in their cars was not keeping up with the heat. While merchants selling cold beverages saw an increase in demand, some locals were observed navigating the streets with umbrellas despite the extreme heat.

The UAE saw an average daily high of 42.6°C in April, which was similarly extreme to these record temperatures. Particularly in areas like the Middle East that are extremely vulnerable to rising global temperatures, such tendencies are increasingly being connected to the consequences of climate change.

One of the world's warmest temperature zones is where the United Arab Emirates, a significant oil exporting country, is located. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is one of the most sensitive to the effects of climate change, according to numerous scientific assessments. Research indicates that as greenhouse gas concentrations rise, heat waves are growing more frequent, more powerful, and longer.

Over the past 30 years, the frequency of really hot days has almost doubled globally. This tendency has immediate economic and public health ramifications in the MENA area, especially for individuals who work outside. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reported in 2024 that 83.6% of Arab outdoor workers are exposed to severe heat, which raises the risk of heat-related illnesses and productivity losses.

In June of the previous year, almost 1,300 people died on the yearly Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the dangers of intense heat. The majority of deaths were to unapproved pilgrims who were exposed to intense heat for extended periods of time.

Additional worries were addressed in Greenpeace's 2022 report on climate change in the Middle East. It discovered that the area is warming at a rate that is almost twice as fast as the world average, further endangering already scarce resources like food and water supplies. This could result in higher risks of food insecurity, water scarcity, and public health issues brought on by extreme heat events for nations like the United Arab Emirates.

The urgency of ongoing efforts to mitigate climate change is increased by these developments. In 2023, the UAE hosted the COP28 climate summit, where world leaders convened to explore strategies for cutting emissions and enhancing climate resilience. The most recent temperature records, however, show how quickly climate threats are becoming real, especially in areas that are already dealing with severe weather.

Temperatures that break records are a statistical milestone, but their effects go beyond just the statistics. In one of the world's most quickly industrializing and urbanizing desert countries, they are an obvious indication of environmental stress that is already having an impact on daily life, infrastructural performance, and economic activity.

It is also anticipated that temperature anomalies like those observed in Sweihan and Abu Dhabi will increase demand on the nation's energy grid. An intricate feedback loop between efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to it is created when cooling systems are used more frequently during extreme weather events, raising questions regarding energy use, grid resilience, and emissions.

Infrastructure development, occupational health, and urban planning must now adjust to a climate reality where days with temperatures above 50°C could increase in frequency and duration. The information highlights the necessity of region-specific approaches to managing the effects of climate change, especially for nations like the United Arab Emirates that are both economically equipped to lead the way in climate adaption technology and heavily exposed.

Countries in the Gulf region are facing more and more difficulties as heat waves continue to be a continuous feature of the global climate system. These include hazards to food and water security, which are essential for long-term stability, as well as elevated mortality risks during religious pilgrimages and outdoor labor.

Another important indication of the pressing need to enact and expedite policies targeted at reducing emissions, enhancing resilience, and protecting vulnerable populations from the worsening effects of climate change is the UAE's record-breaking temperatures in May.

Source: AFP