The UAE is in the middle of a cold snap, with low temperatures of 2ºC forecast in the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah this week, and rain sweeping in from the west by Wednesday.
Cloudy conditions are expected until Friday, with rain forecast by the National Centre of Meteorology on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and noticeably cooler conditions across the Emirates, with lows of 14ºC forecast every day until Friday in Dubai and 15ºC in Abu Dhabi.
It follows a cold weekend, with temperatures in Jebel Jais dropping to 1.8ºC on Sunday, according to the NCM. The mercury rose slightly on Monday morning, with the UAE's lowest temperature of the day being 3.4ºC, recorded in the Raknah area of Al Ain at 7.15am.
Temperatures have dropped significantly since the turn of the year, NCM data shows. For comparison, the lowest temperature in the UAE on December 31 was 10.7ºC, in the vast desert region of Al Dhafra, in Abu Dhabi.
The chilly conditions and frost at the UAE’s tallest peak may be no surprise, but elsewhere in the Emirates there has also been a distinct feeling of winter in the air. Clear skies have coincided with temperatures dropping to 13ºC overnight in Al Ain, and 14ºC in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Daytime temperatures are set to remain at about 24ºC for much of the week across the country, but rain is likely to arrive from Wednesday.
Dubai and the Northern Emirates are most likely to be hit by rain showers as clouds form over coastal areas. Thursday is likely to bring a further chance of rain, with light to moderate winds from the north.
More rain is forecast on Friday, in northern and eastern areas of the country, with fog expected to drift in on Saturday morning.
Snow may be a rare sight in the UAE, but light flurries have been seen in the mountains of the north. In February 2017, Jebel Jais received a blanket of snow, with snow returning three years later in the winter of 2020.
The coldest temperature in the Emirates was recorded in January 2021, when it was a very icy minus 2ºC in Raknah.
Winter season arrives
The UAE typically experiences an increase in unsettled weather and a drop in temperatures during the winter, which typically begins in late December and continues until the middle of March.
The NCM recently shared its climate outlook January, in which it forecasts rain and says average temperatures will be in line with those recorded during the first month of the year.
The UAE is expected to receive about 11.5mm of rain during the month. The average temperature – taking into account day and evening forecasts – will be 18.3ºC.
While the country has experienced a chilly and relatively rainy start to the year, the unsettled start to 2025 pales in comparison to the extreme weather felt in January last year. A 10-hour rainstorm brought chaos to the roads on Saturday, January 11, causing long traffic jams and flooding.
Rain fell throughout Friday and the early hours of Saturday, leaving many roads waterlogged. Preliminary readings from Dubai showed that 150mm of rain had fallen every hour for two-and-a-half hours.
Another January deluge was recorded in 2023, with yellow and amber alerts issued as downpours caused flooding in some areas. On Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, floodwater covered parts of the 12-lane motorway, leading to long queues of traffic.
January deluge in 2020 – in pictures
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A municipal worker drains flood waters close to Ibn Battuta and Discovery Gardens on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Signs were blown down across the city. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A driver tries to drain water from his car near Ibn Battuta mall. Ruel Pableo for The National -
An abandoned car sits in flood water near the low-lying Discovery Gardens, one of the worst-hit areas. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Drivers were caught out by sudden downpours for a third day in a row on Sunday, with many getting stuck. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Motorists appear to have abandoned their vehicles in this image from Ibn Battuta. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A rainbow appears among the clouds in Abu Dhabi. Talib Jariwala / The National -
Cloudy weather once again around the Corniche area in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
High winds caused damage to many buildings, including this one in Abu Dhabi's Tourist Club area. Khushnum Bhandari for The National -
Dark clouds over the skyline of Dubai with Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. AFP -
The sign for Last Exit food truck park in Jebel Ali was torn by high winds. Ruel Pableo for The National -
So was this advert for Nakheel properties on Sheikh Zayed Road. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Torn billboards flutter in high winds on Sheikh Zayed Road on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
The low-lying Jebel Ali area is particularly badly hit. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Flooding at a car park by lorries and buses in Jebel Ali on Sunday morning. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Municipality workers use a pump at a waterlogged road in Internet City on Sunday. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Roads around Internet City were waterlogged after a fresh downpour about 7.30am on Sunday. Ruel Pableo -
Commuters head to work through Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo for The National -
A municipality worker clearing debris in Discovery Gardens. Ruel Pableo foir The National -
Rain clouds loom over the road to Abu Dhabi at 7am on Sunday morning. Commuters were hit with patches of driving rain from about 8am. Suhail Rather / The National -
Municipal workers attempt to clear a flooded tunnel in Sharjah on Sunday morning. Courtesy: Sharjah Municipality -
The National Center for Search and Rescue said the first rescue mission took place on Saturday morning when they received a report about two men being trapped due to flash floods in Wadi Ghashabah. A helicopter was immediately dispatched to the site where the two men, of Sudanese nationality, were found clinging to a tree about 50 meters away from the Wadi banks. The rescue team managed to airlift the men and take them to safety. Courtesy NSRC -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Flooding on Al Ishoush St, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Overcast skies over Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Heavy rains in Dubai during the night caused extensive flooding at intersections within the city. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Commuters battle high water along the Al Manara and Beach road intersection. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Water is logged outside the Movenpick Ibn Batutta Gate Hotel from heavy overnight rain. James O'Hara / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
Traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road going to Abu Dhabi. Ramola Talwar / The National -
A car drives through a waterlogged road near Al Bateen airport. Scott Walker -
A delivery van struggles to navigate flood waters near Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi on Saturday about 9am. Courtesy: Scott Walker -
A man sweeps water from the running track along Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Barsha Heights saw a medium amount of flooding that still proved challenging to morning commuters. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A waiter at Burts in The Greens sweeps away some water to get ready for the business day. Antonie Robertson/The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Flooding in Barsha Heights. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens get out their umbrellas today for their morning walk. Antonie Robertson / The National -
The Greens saw heavy rain that left the streets wet. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Residents of The Greens enjoy their morning walk in the early drizzle. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A municipality worker supervises water being pumped from flooding along the roads near Kite Beach. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Parking areas in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai were inundated with water and residents raced to get their cars to safer spots following heavy overnight rainfall on Saturday. Courtesy: Antonie Abreu -
Flooding in Discovery Gardens. Courtesy: Antonio Abreu
