• Visitors to Kite beach wear jumpers as the colder weather sets in. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Visitors to Kite beach wear jumpers as the colder weather sets in. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Hoodies are a popular choice of attire when temperatures drop in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Hoodies are a popular choice of attire when temperatures drop in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A man wraps up warm on the beach in Dubai as the cold snap bites. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A man wraps up warm on the beach in Dubai as the cold snap bites. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • While a t-shirt is usually enough in sun-baked Dubai, there is a need for more layers during a particularly cool winter. Pawan Singh / The National
    While a t-shirt is usually enough in sun-baked Dubai, there is a need for more layers during a particularly cool winter. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A member of the public wraps up warm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A member of the public wraps up warm in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sales of winter clothing such as jackets, coats and hoodies have surged in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Sales of winter clothing such as jackets, coats and hoodies have surged in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Traders have seens sales go up as temperatures drop in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Traders have seens sales go up as temperatures drop in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • One Dubai shop reported an increase in sales of 25 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Pawan Singh / The National
    One Dubai shop reported an increase in sales of 25 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Shorts are still the order of the day, but residents are slipping on hoodies and jackets before stepping out. Pawan Singh / The National
    Shorts are still the order of the day, but residents are slipping on hoodies and jackets before stepping out. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Dubai residents have been stocking up on winter clothing. Pawan Singh / The National
    Dubai residents have been stocking up on winter clothing. Pawan Singh / The National

UAE weather: is this the coldest day of the year as temperatures plunge to -2°C?


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The UAE woke to a chilly start on Saturday as temperatures plunged to below zero in some desert areas overnight.

The mercury dipped to minus 2°C in Raknah, a wadi near Al Ain, where it is often colder than higher ground as the air collects in the valley and cools overnight.

Other areas inland also experienced a cold start, with lows of between 5°C and 9°C, while temperatures on the coast ranged between 10°C and 15°C during the morning.

Temperatures will reach about 22°C to 24°C on Saturday along the coast and in internal areas.

There will be further drops in humidity with Abu Dhabi looking at a peak of 60 per cent and Dubai 55 per cent.

The chilly weather is set to continue this week, with “cold” temperatures, especially overnight and in the early hours inland and in the mountains on Sunday, the National Centre of Meteorology forecast.

It will be sunny to partly cloudy, with light to moderate winds, which could strengthen at times.

From Monday to Thursday, humidity will rise overnight inland and in the west, raising the risk of mist.

The sea will be rough at times, as is common in the winter months.

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The best fog images from the UAE

  • Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is covered in 2018. Emmanuel Samoglou / The National
    Reem Island in Abu Dhabi is covered in 2018. Emmanuel Samoglou / The National
  • Miguel Angel Jimenez and other golfers on the fog covered range at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011. Mike Young / The National
    Miguel Angel Jimenez and other golfers on the fog covered range at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2011. Mike Young / The National
  • Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
    Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
  • Towers in Dubai Media City during the early morning fog in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
    Towers in Dubai Media City during the early morning fog in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Fairmont Marina peeks through the fog on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, on a sunny morning. Victor Besa / The National
    The Fairmont Marina peeks through the fog on the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, on a sunny morning. Victor Besa / The National
  • Morning fog descends over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National
    Morning fog descends over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National
  • The ground below is swallowed up by fog in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The ground below is swallowed up by fog in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Only the tallest buildings in Dubai sometimes escape the blanket. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Only the tallest buildings in Dubai sometimes escape the blanket. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Window cleaners work on Al Ain Tower with view of Etihad Towers in the background in Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. Erica ElKhershi / The National
    Window cleaners work on Al Ain Tower with view of Etihad Towers in the background in Al Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi. Erica ElKhershi / The National
  • A variety of light captured during fog in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National
    A variety of light captured during fog in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National
  • A fisherman on a misty morning in 2016. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
    A fisherman on a misty morning in 2016. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
  • Morning fog burns off near Electra Street in Abu Dhabi on December 31, 2008. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
    Morning fog burns off near Electra Street in Abu Dhabi on December 31, 2008. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
  • Fog in Abu Dhabi seen from The Gate Towers on Reem Island in 2015. Irene García León for The National
    Fog in Abu Dhabi seen from The Gate Towers on Reem Island in 2015. Irene García León for The National
  • A light fog covers the Dubai skyline in 2015. Sarah Dea / The National
    A light fog covers the Dubai skyline in 2015. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Cars drive through the morning fog on 24th street in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Galen Clarke / The National
    Cars drive through the morning fog on 24th street in Abu Dhabi in 2009. Galen Clarke / The National
  • Gate Towers on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island in 2013. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Gate Towers on Abu Dhabi's Reem Island in 2013. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Fog over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National
    Fog over Dubai Marina in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Sheikh Zayed bridge engulfed in fog in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National.
    Sheikh Zayed bridge engulfed in fog in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National.
  • Abu Dhabi city on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Abu Dhabi city on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Fog in the city of Abu Dhabi on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Fog in the city of Abu Dhabi on Christmas morning, 2017. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The UAE flag stands in the clear against a misty backdrop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The UAE flag stands in the clear against a misty backdrop in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A lady takes her morning walk amid the fog at the Khalifa City A in 2018. Victor Besa / The National
    A lady takes her morning walk amid the fog at the Khalifa City A in 2018. Victor Besa / The National
  • Fog engulfed with high humidity in Abu Dhabi. Rajesh Korde / The National
    Fog engulfed with high humidity in Abu Dhabi. Rajesh Korde / The National
  • The Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • A man goes for an early morning cycle as fog covers Dubai on September 21, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A man goes for an early morning cycle as fog covers Dubai on September 21, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Misty conditions around JBR in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National
    Misty conditions around JBR in Dubai. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A worker walks through Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A worker walks through Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Fog over Dubai Marina. Courtesy Ollie Maher
    Fog over Dubai Marina. Courtesy Ollie Maher
  • Towers in JLT in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
    Towers in JLT in Dubai in April 2020. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Cars emerge from early morning fog on Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Cars emerge from early morning fog on Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Dense fog blankets the Abu Dhabi skyline with Etihad Towers visible. Erica ElKhershi / The National
    Dense fog blankets the Abu Dhabi skyline with Etihad Towers visible. Erica ElKhershi / The National
  • Workers during early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Workers during early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
    Dense fog engulfs Abu Dhabi's Al Maryah Island in December 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
  • Early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Early morning fog in the Discovery Gardens area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The sun tries to break through a foggy sky in Dubai. Rajesh Korde / The National
    The sun tries to break through a foggy sky in Dubai. Rajesh Korde / The National
  • The Corniche in Abu Dhabi in February 2018. Victor Besa / The National
    The Corniche in Abu Dhabi in February 2018. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Dubai high rises peek out above the fog. Sarah Dea / The National
    The Dubai high rises peek out above the fog. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Fog hovers in Ras Al Khaimah. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
    Fog hovers in Ras Al Khaimah. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
  • A gloomy start to a day in Abu Dhabi in 2013. Delores Johnson / The National
    A gloomy start to a day in Abu Dhabi in 2013. Delores Johnson / The National
  • A morning fog rolls in over Abu Dhabi at the public beach in Al Bateen on October 28, 2009. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
    A morning fog rolls in over Abu Dhabi at the public beach in Al Bateen on October 28, 2009. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
  • Buildings on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi wrapped in fog in 2013. Brian Kerrigan / The National
    Buildings on Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi wrapped in fog in 2013. Brian Kerrigan / The National
  • Thick morning fog over Dubai Marina. Mark Asquith / The National
    Thick morning fog over Dubai Marina. Mark Asquith / The National
  • Early morning fog around the Dubai Marina area. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Early morning fog around the Dubai Marina area. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Dubai Marina has almost vanished in the fog with just the walkway visible in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Dubai Marina has almost vanished in the fog with just the walkway visible in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Dubai Marina in a mix of sunshine and fog in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Dubai Marina in a mix of sunshine and fog in 2014. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Fog reported in areas of Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Al Dhafra on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fog reported in areas of Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Al Dhafra on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The seaside takes on a calm serenity in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
    The seaside takes on a calm serenity in 2017. Ravindranath K / The National
  • Fog during the morning in the Tecom area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fog during the morning in the Tecom area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Reem Island's Gate Towers stand tall above the cloud line in Abu Dhabi. Thamer Al Subaihi / The National
    Reem Island's Gate Towers stand tall above the cloud line in Abu Dhabi. Thamer Al Subaihi / The National
  • Despite heavy fog in Abu Dhabi, a woman spends the morning along the shore in January 2011. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
    Despite heavy fog in Abu Dhabi, a woman spends the morning along the shore in January 2011. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National