Read more: What is causing UAE's record high temperatures?
The UAE on Saturday broke a May temperature record for the second day in a row, the National Centre of Meteorology said.
In a post on X, the centre confirmed the mercury rose to a scorching 51.6ºC in Abu Dhabi emirate.
The record temperature was recorded in the Sweihan area close to Al Ain and followed Friday's record of 50.4°C, also in Abu Dhabi emirate.
Both those temperatures were higher than the previous May record of 50.2°C noted in May 2009.
Records have been collected systematically in the early 2000s.
The sizzling temperatures mean summer has started earlier this year and also comes after the UAE experienced the hottest April on record. Average daily temperature highs for the month stood at 42.6°C.
It also comes as global climate records continue to tumble. Last year was the world's hottest year on record, scientists from the European Copernicus climate service said. It broke the record set in 2023.
The scorching conditions in the UAE meanwhile, prompted the NCM on Friday to issue a heat warning instructing people to avoid direct exposure to the sun, drink plenty of fluids, not to leave children in cars and ensure pets are hydrated.
Medics have urged people to stay indoors during peak heat hours where possible and avoid direct sun exposure.
Dr Karthikeyan Chinniah, consultant in emergency medicine at Lifecare Hospital in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, previously told The National that people should allow their body time to acclimate to hot weather before engaging in strenuous activity. He also advised wearing loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing, using sunscreen and wearing sunglasses.
“It is essential to consume enough water to stay sufficiently hydrated," Dr Chinniah said.
There might be some respite for residents from scorching heat over the next few days.
In its five-day bulletin published on Sunday, the NCM forecast for Monday a “decrease in temperatures over the western coasts”.
It was a similar picture for Tuesday with the centre forecasting “another decrease in temperatures”.
The NCM said maximum temperatures on the coastal cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi were expected to hit 45ºC on Monday and drop to 44ºC on Tuesday.
Experts have said, however, the UAE is headed for longer and hotter summers.
Dr Diana Francis, climate scientist and head of the ENGEOS Lab at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, in April told The National that summer now lasts about 10 days longer.
“In the future, projections show an increase of the summer season towards six months, with fall and spring seasons shrinking in length," said Dr Francis.
The view from The National
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
