Latest: More rain on the way after overnight downpour
There will be a wet end to 2021, with light rain forecast across the country on Thursday as the UAE heads into New Year's Eve.
It will be partly cloudy throughout Thursday morning, with light winds and showers likely.
Temperatures are expected to remain cool at 26ºC on much of the west coast, but slightly warmer in central areas and in Fujairah with a breeze.
Rough seas are likely in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea, according to the National Centre for Meteorology.
Rain may dampen New Year's Eve celebrations with showers forecast over the country, particularly Abu Dhabi, late into the evening.
A south westerly wind with speeds approaching 45 kilometres an hour could create difficult driving conditions in open areas on Friday, with blowing sand and dust.
The first day of 2022 promises more unsettled weather, as cloud and possibility of rain continues into Saturday.
New Year’s Day will be largely overcast with scattered showers likely across the country. Daytime temperatures will remain in the mid-20s, but cooler at night with a minimum of 14ºC inland.
January and February are the wettest months – but on average the Emirates record just five days of rain each year, making it one of the driest climates in the world.
UAE's wildest weather - in pictures
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People run for cover during the March 9, 2016 storm in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, when strong winds and driving rain caused chaos across the UAE. Christopher Pike / The National -
City streets were inundated with water, such as here on 8th Street in Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National -
While the rain and winds caused major damage they brought smiles of glee for some of the younger residents of Abu Dhabi. Delores Johnson / The National -
The sky darkened from early on March 9, 2016. The view from Abu Dhabi's main bus station is of murky skies. Jonathan Raymond / The National -
However, storms have always been a feature of the weather here, such as this squall on Abu Dhabi's Corniche taken at some point between 1962 and 1964. Photo: David Riley -
Flooding is seen in Fujairah following heavy rainfall. Photo: Storm Centre UAE -
Floodwater often inundated Abu Dhabi island during the 1960s as defences had yet to be built. Photo: David Riley -
A huge storm that swept through the region in 1963 left the Sharjah Airbase flooded, as this photograph shows. Photo: Vic Cozens -
Snow can also be common in the winter. Snowmen are often built, such as this one in Jebel Jais in January, 2020. Photo: Ahmed Al Bedwawi -
Snow also fell on Jebel Jais mountain in Ras al Khaimah in January and December 2017. Photo: Mike Charlton -
Most of Jebel Jais was blanketed in a pristine layer of snow. Photo: Ahmed Al Bedwawi -
Dense fog is also common in the mountains, as this 2015 shot from Jebel Jais shows. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National -
Fog and mist cover the Burj Al Arab. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Early morning fog in Discovery Gardens, Dubai in April, 2020. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dense fog is common during winter, reducing visibility on the roads. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dubai Media City enveloped in fog. Pawan Singh / The National -
Dust storms are also common, causing havoc on the roads such as this one from March, 2017 in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
A lightening strike in Umm Al Quwain. Photo: Storm Centre UAE -
Another dust storm from 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National -
A dust storm passes by the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah, April, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Rain storms can cause the most chaos, however, as the March 2016 one did. A construction barrier fell onto parked cars in Abu Dhabi. AFP -
Trees were uprooted on 29th Street in Abu Dhabi during the same storm. Ravindranath K / The National
