Not even summer yet, UAE is already hot as an oven, up to 50.4 degrees Celsius

UAE just recorded a record temperature of more than 50 degrees Celsius in May on May 23 - Photo: AFP

According to AFP news agency, on May 23, the UAE National Center for Meteorology (NCM) recorded a record temperature of 50.4 degrees Celsius in the Al Shawamekh area in the capital Abu Dhabi - surpassing the old record of 50.2 degrees in 2009.

Extreme weather due to climate change

With its desert climate, the UAE regularly experiences extremely hot, baking-hot weather during the summer months. But this year temperatures have been unusually high, even before summer has begun.

Last month, the UAE also recorded its hottest April on record, with an average daily high temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius - higher than the 42.2 degrees recorded in April 2017.

Scientists say increasingly severe heatwaves are a clear consequence of global warming, and will become more frequent, longer and more intense. The number of extremely hot days globally has nearly doubled in the past three decades, and not just in the UAE.

A 2022 Greenpeace study also found that the Middle East is warming at nearly twice the global average rate and is at risk of water shortages, food shortages, and increased extreme heat waves due to climate change.

'It's so hot I can't stand it, I can't do anything'

Despite being used to the heat, many UAE residents still could not stand the heat on May 23 - Photo: THE NEW ARAB

The extreme heat has left many people feeling dizzy and fainting, even though they are used to harsh weather. The high temperatures on May 23 were even accompanied by humidity levels of up to 80% in some areas, increasing the feeling of suffocation and the risk of heatstroke for people.

A 26-year-old resident of the capital said he arrived late to church, had to pray outdoors and felt like he was about to faint when the service ended.

“I was drenched in sweat by the end of the prayer. It was extremely hot, unbearable,” he said.

In Dubai, Mohammed Juma, 31, said he saw a man staggering along the side of the road before collapsing in the heat. Youssef, 45, who operates a hot air balloon for tourists in Dubai, also said the high humidity left him feeling “out of oxygen” and “completely unable to do anything.”

Faced with the above situation, NCM has recommended that people take health protection measures such as staying indoors, avoiding direct exposure to sunlight, drinking plenty of water, wearing appropriate clothing and using sunscreen to limit the harmful effects of extreme weather.

The UAE is one of the world's largest oil exporters, but is also investing heavily in renewable energy. The UAE will also host the COP28 climate conference in 2023.

According to the 2024 report of the International Labor Organization (ILO), 83.6% of workers in Arab countries are exposed to excessive heat due to exposure to high temperatures when working outdoors - the highest rate in the world.

Previously in June 2024, more than 1,300 people died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia - most of them unlicensed pilgrims - due to enduring the intense heat outdoors for a long time.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chua-he-uae-da-nong-nhu-lo-nuong-toi-50-4-do-c-20250524143549435.htm