UAE weather: scorching week on the way as mercury hits 49C in some areas

Temperatures set to peak amid changeable dry and humid conditions

People take selfies and photographs with the Abu Dhabi skyline as a backdrop on a hot summer day. Ravindranath K / The National

The UAE is set for one of its hottest weeks of the year as temperatures hit 49°C in some areas.

Sunday began with a hot blast of dry air with the mercury in the mid-forties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The National Centre of Meteorology predicted similar conditions throughout the week, with humid nights making conditions uncomfortable.

Along the coast and islands the maximum is likely to be 47°C with 85 per cent humidity, and the mountains are expected to hit 37°C with 50 per cent humidity.

The interior is expected to reach 49°C on Sunday, with up to 85 per cent humidity.

Staycationers enjoying a getaway to Fujairah could expect lower highs of 39°C and lows of 33°C on Sunday, making it one of the coolest places in the country.

The weather centre predicted hazy conditions with dust in the air, as is common throughout the summer.

There will be light to moderate winds, freshening at times.

The sea will be slight in the Arabian Gulf and in the Oman Sea. It will be humid by night and into Monday morning with a probability of mist formation over some Northern coastal areas.

Inside Sweihan, the 'hottest town in the world' - in pictures

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  Shops in Sweihan. On Sunday, temperatures in the Al Ain town hit 51.8°C, the highest recorded by any community on Earth that day.

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  'The National' visited Sweihan when the temperature was a more clement 44°C, but not right for cooking eggs.

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  Shakeel KP, a restaurant owner in Sweihan, says this summer is the hottest he has experienced in 12 years.

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  Elhadrami Alhashmi, an Emirati camel trainer and businessman, says Sweihan is hotter than his hometown of Liwa.

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  Thursday's temperatures in Sweihan meant an attempt at frying an egg in the 44°C heat did not deliver the desired effect.

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  Residents of Sweihan say the heat is unbearable.

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  Sweihan's heat melts ice cream in minutes.

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  Residents of Sweihan say they avoid going outdoors during the daytime.

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  Haris Hassan, 50, from Kerala, is the owner of Mega Fun Electronics in Sweihan. He says daytime heat is too much for even a five-minute walk.

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  Sweihan resident Tareef Otham has cut down on his daily outdoor exercise routine to avoid the heat.

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  Abdullah OK, 21, from India, sells fruit and vegetables in Sweihan.

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  Hawa El Hadey, a travel agent who moved from Abu Dhabi city to Sweihan 13 years ago, says the heat is not too bad.

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  Syed Ali, 31, from Pakistan works as a maintenance supervisor and has been living in Sweihan for five years.

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  Muhammad Shafi, 35, from Kerala, has been in Sweihan for six months.

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  Sweihan's long-time residents said last week was perhaps the hottest they have experienced.

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  Sweihan's long-time residents said last week was perhaps the hottest they have experienced.