![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USR7N3C64KWHCYTTQAHGKZIXSY.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e772bb7da28b929e0b40a0e20b3079eb0a101d4a955e855b7e222779e8b3e8&width=400&height=225)
A wind tower in Dubai's historic Bastakiya area. Razan Alzayani / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCTCUKC7I7D3TXKSX6LBBTEOTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=006e7df5f680072f9a9548ab6d1c5f503e8f2de4e93a6576bfa63f0c0cff0aac&width=400&height=225)
The urban cool island effect is when built-up areas have lower temperatures than surrounding rural districts. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YILABDSYB24PDWKZKGNNRFKUCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cac281d926220531918b7822be7a203bf9e7102be64cb8642ef69ec977528a8&width=400&height=225)
In Dubai the effect can make the city as much as 3°C cooler than the desert. Reem Mohammed/The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBWXLVBQJT64FWVX6YKQPXR25A.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa6a64c01401292131733302ef4c0a8d2ad0842bdf89a5ae467c1daf8f10998f&width=400&height=225)
Burj Khalifa from Safa Park in Dubai. Areas such as parks are typically slightly cooler than adjacent districts. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BER43DX6DN3Q5ZBNV5GIYLAKII.jpg?smart=true&auth=f2331f8bb1f7e223fe7062b214e1f6d6bb3036adb78425d65ed402157cd76eaf&width=400&height=225)
People walk by Dubai Creek in Deira. Buildings create shade that keep temperatures down. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MXVVTWOOZEROPJZTT2UJZ5YDPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf8769909c4f1b18986e89591f3e465c97bb741cadd057c2b95b2f7ee3a80d0a&width=400&height=225)
Trees and greenery cool the surroundings along Dubai Creek in Deira. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BI7HSU7V4VOU5KBYH6YBD4V2WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b54313e637a953c090710b0633c93dfeaed66767e0d82064bd37927aab0efae&width=400&height=225)
After dark, however, the urban heat island takes precedence in Dubai, and the city can be about 2 °C warmer than the desert. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USR7N3C64KWHCYTTQAHGKZIXSY.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e772bb7da28b929e0b40a0e20b3079eb0a101d4a955e855b7e222779e8b3e8&width=400&height=225)
A wind tower in Dubai's historic Bastakiya area. Razan Alzayani / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HCTCUKC7I7D3TXKSX6LBBTEOTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=006e7df5f680072f9a9548ab6d1c5f503e8f2de4e93a6576bfa63f0c0cff0aac&width=400&height=225)
The urban cool island effect is when built-up areas have lower temperatures than surrounding rural districts. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YILABDSYB24PDWKZKGNNRFKUCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=5cac281d926220531918b7822be7a203bf9e7102be64cb8642ef69ec977528a8&width=400&height=225)
In Dubai the effect can make the city as much as 3°C cooler than the desert. Reem Mohammed/The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OBWXLVBQJT64FWVX6YKQPXR25A.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa6a64c01401292131733302ef4c0a8d2ad0842bdf89a5ae467c1daf8f10998f&width=400&height=225)
Burj Khalifa from Safa Park in Dubai. Areas such as parks are typically slightly cooler than adjacent districts. Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BER43DX6DN3Q5ZBNV5GIYLAKII.jpg?smart=true&auth=f2331f8bb1f7e223fe7062b214e1f6d6bb3036adb78425d65ed402157cd76eaf&width=400&height=225)
People walk by Dubai Creek in Deira. Buildings create shade that keep temperatures down. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MXVVTWOOZEROPJZTT2UJZ5YDPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf8769909c4f1b18986e89591f3e465c97bb741cadd057c2b95b2f7ee3a80d0a&width=400&height=225)
Trees and greenery cool the surroundings along Dubai Creek in Deira. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BI7HSU7V4VOU5KBYH6YBD4V2WI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b54313e637a953c090710b0633c93dfeaed66767e0d82064bd37927aab0efae&width=400&height=225)
After dark, however, the urban heat island takes precedence in Dubai, and the city can be about 2 °C warmer than the desert. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/USR7N3C64KWHCYTTQAHGKZIXSY.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e772bb7da28b929e0b40a0e20b3079eb0a101d4a955e855b7e222779e8b3e8&width=400&height=225)
A wind tower in Dubai's historic Bastakiya area. Razan Alzayani / The National
Why Dubai is a cooler city than others
The UAE's biggest city experiences 'urban cool' - where temperature can be much as 3°C cooler than surrounding areas
![Daniel Bardsley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F4dcffed7-67d1-4c6f-b468-84a82d1ddd22.png?smart=true&auth=e4d7a6e3c76d7ec922e25339bc18538c62bc925936c2316006dc89b8a7becdc6&width=70&height=70)
Daniel Bardsley
01 October, 2020
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