• 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 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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 have hit 35°C in Belgrade. AFP

UAE

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

The National

July 16, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

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
    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, 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.
    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.
    Wednesday was another scorching day when 'The National' visited.
  • With temperatures soaring, could you fry an egg with the help of the intense heat?
    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.
    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.
    A worker enjoys a drink on another sweltering day.
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

While you're here
Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
While you're here
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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.”

Results

2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m

Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).

2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m

Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m

Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m

Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m

Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.

4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m

Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.

5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m

Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clinicy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Prince%20Mohammed%20Bin%20Abdulrahman%2C%20Abdullah%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%20and%20Saud%20bin%20Sulaiman%20Alobaid%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2025%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20More%20than%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Gate%20Capital%2C%20Kafou%20Group%20and%20Fadeed%20Investment%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Anna and the Apocalypse

Director: John McPhail

Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton

Three stars

Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
  • Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
  • Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
  • Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
  • Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
  • 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
  • Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
While you're here
While you're here
Maestro
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBradley%20Cooper%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBradley%20Cooper%2C%20Carey%20Mulligan%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Updated: July 17, 2023, 6:37 AM
UAEWeather