UAE weather: Temperature crosses 50°C for the first time in 2023

Mercury hits 50.1°C in Bada Dafas in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region for two days in a row

A hot and dusty day in downtown Dubai. Temperatures in one desert region hit 50°C on Sunday, while the cities sweltered in 45°C heat. Pawan Singh / The National

A swimmer dives into the Mediterranean Sea to cool off on a sweltering day in in Beirut, where it was 40°C this weekend. AP Photo

Children cool off outside the Tokyo Skytree as temperatures hit the mid-30s. Japan issued heatstroke alerts to tens of millions of people on Sunday. AFP

Beachgoers cool off in the ocean at a beach in Valencia, Spain. A new heat wave is to hit the country on Monday, with temperatures above 40°C expected in many places. EPA

People cool off using water from a fountain on St Peter's Square in the Vatican City. AFP

A man cools off in a fountain during a heat wave in Turin, Italy. EPA

People use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun in Milan, Italy. EPA

Spanish street sweeper Javier drinks water in Ronda. Temperatures will hit 40°C from Sunday to Tuesday on the Canary Islands and in Andalusia. AFP

The heatwave in Greece, codenamed 'Kleon', has seen temperatures reach as high as 44°C over the past four days. EPA

Temperatures have hit 35°C in Belgrade. AFP

Temperatures in the UAE on Saturday crossed the searing 50°C threshold for the first time this year.

The mercury climbed to 50.1°C in Bada Dafas in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra region at 2.30pm, the National Centre of Meteorology recorded.

The weather bureau confirmed to The National on Sunday it was the first time temperatures crossed the threshold this year as the peak of summer descends on the country.

Temperatures hit the same highs on Sunday with the NCM recording 50.1°C at the same place.

High temperatures and soaring humidity led to a scorching start to July. Doctors have previously advised people to avoid direct sunlight, stay hydrated and watch for dehydration symptoms in children.

The UAE has also introduced a mandatory midday break for workers from July 15 to September 15. The policy bans people from carrying out work outside between 12.30pm and 3pm.

Intense heatwaves are scorching many parts of the globe.

More than 111 million people across the US were under extreme heat warnings. It is a similar story in southern Europe with countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece sweltering amid a heatwave that has seen the mercury edge towards the high 40s.

Meanwhile, in its five-day bulletin issue on Sunday, the NCM forecast more humidity on Monday and Tuesday over some coastal areas but said temperatures could be a little lower.

Temperatures in Abu Dhabi on Monday are expected to reach about 42°C while in Dubai they could inch close to 40°C.

It also forecast for Monday that strong winds reaching speeds of up to 40 kph could kick up dust and sand clouds. Similar conditions are expected on Tuesday.

“[It will be] fair to partly cloudy in general,” the NCM said, in its Tuesday forecast. “Low clouds [are set to] appear over the east coast by morning.”

The weather bureau added that it could again be humid on Tuesday night with strong winds again set to kick up dust clouds.

High temperatures in Sweihan in 2022 – in pictures

A worker hydrates after a hot day. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Sweihan, near Al Ain, hits 50°C for second day in a row.

Sweihan is well used to sizzling heat after the community one day in June last year recorded 51.8°C.

Wednesday was another scorching day when 'The National' visited.

With temperatures soaring, could you fry an egg with the help of the intense heat?

The blistering sunshine ensured the egg would cook, even if it was more baked than fried.

A worker enjoys a drink on another sweltering day.