UAE weather: High temperatures and dust forecast over Eid Al Fitr holiday

Mercury set to rise to 37°C in some parts of the country

The temperature in Abu Dhabi is forecast to reach 37°C during Eid Al Fitr. Pawan Singh / The National

Temperatures are forecast to rise across the UAE during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology.

On Friday, temperatures in Dubai will reach 36°C, 6°C higher than the previous day, and Abu Dhabi is expected to be 35°C, up 3°C from the previous day.

Saturday will be much the same as Friday, with the mercury at night dipping to the low 20°Cs.

On Sunday, highs of 37°C are expected in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while winds could kick up dust clouds during the day and reduce visibility.

Light rain is expected in some western and southern areas, as well as winds of 35kph. The sea will be light to moderate.

The Eid Al Fitr holiday begins on Thursday, April 20, for private and government workers and will continue through to Sunday, April 23, if Ramadan lasts for 29 days, or Monday, April 24, if the holy month is 30 days.

The exact starting date of Eid is to be decided by the UAE's moon-sighting committee.

Abu Dhabi is expected to record a high of 37°C on Monday, while Dubai will start the week slight cooler at 34°C.

Staycations are a popular choice during the Eid break, but temperatures will be similar across the country.

There will be highs of 36°C in Fujairah and 37°C in Ras Al Khaimah on Saturday, the centre said in its weekly bulletin.

Eid Al Fitr preparations around the world: in pictures

A man shops for sweets at a market before Eid Al Fitr in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters

A street vendor sells balloons in Sidon. Reuters

Ministry of Religion employees in Aceh, Indonesia, observe the position of the Moon to determine when Eid Al Fitr will fall. EPA

A vendor selling sweets as Palestinians prepare for the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

Palestinian women make traditional cakes in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. Reuters

A woman has her arm decorated with henna at a street market in the run-up to Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end Ramadan, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP

Henna designs are the order of the day in Mogadishu. AP

Pastries on display at a market stall in the Ulus district of Ankara, ahead of the Eid Al Fitr holiday. AFP

Many Muslims head back to their home towns and villages from bigger cities to spend Eid Al Fitr with family, such as this man and his children leaving Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA

The sunglasses are on as the packed train leaves Dhaka. EPA

Passengers prepare to board a train in Surabaya, Indonesia, as people head home for the Eid holiday. AFP

Excitement is building for Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. EPA

A pet hotel attendant with a cat staying at the facility while its owners enjoy the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA

A Pakistani craftsman works on women's embroidered clothes before Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA

Embroidered cloth being stitched for Eid Al Fitr. EPA

Passengers at a bus station in Banda Aceh start the journey home for the festivities. AFP

Traffic at a toll booth as Muslims head home for Eid Al Fitr, known locally as Mudik, in Karawang, Indonesia. Reuters

Iraqi women prepare traditional cookies in Mosul ahead of Eid Al Fitr. AFP

The bakes are known as kleicha. AFP

Women visit a market ahead of Eid Al Fitr in Karachi. AP

A Palestinian girl prepares traditional date-filled cookies with her family in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

A Palestinian family prepares food for Eid Al Fitr. AFP

A three-wheeled taxi, known as a 'bajaj', navigates its way through Tanah Abang market in Jakarta. AP

A vendor waits for costumers at a market in Jakarta. AP

A Palestinian worker prepares smoked fish at a factory in Rafah. AFP