UAE breaks May heat record
Summer’s hit the UAE early—and it’s bringing the heat. The country just smashed its May temperature record twice in two days, with a blistering 51.6ºC recorded in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi on Saturday. That followed Friday’s scorcher of 50.4ºC, both topping the previous May high of 50.2ºC set back in 2009.
This heatwave comes right after the UAE’s hottest April on record, with May daily highs averaging a sweltering 42.6ºC. And it’s not just local — globally, 2024 is shaping up to outpace 2023 as the hottest year ever, according to climate experts.
The National Centre of Meteorology has issued a heat alert, urging everyone to steer clear of direct sunlight, stay hydrated, and never leave kids or pets in vehicles — even for a moment.
