Britain experienced its hottest July day on record on Thursday as temperatures crept towards UAE levels – but without the air conditioning to ease the discomfort.
“We're used to having this kind of sunny weather for weeks or months at a time in the UAE,” said Mohamed Al Zeyoudi, an intern at the UAE Embassy in London, originally from Dubai. “The sunshine doesn't come often here in the UK. This is the golden time for everyone.”
The previous hottest July day was recorded in 2015 with a temperature of 36.7°C, also at Heathrow.
“We're in a temperate zone and we get temperate weather,” said meteorologist Jim Dale, founder of British Weather Services.
“When we get weather like this, it goes to the extremes. We're not used to that, it's something that smacks us in the face, causes a lot of trouble and in the worst-case scenario causes deaths and illnesses.”
Devinder Bains, a personal trainer and freelance journalist who splits her time between Dubai and the UK, said she was struggling with the lack of air conditioning in most British buildings.
“It feels really hot, but the main problem is that we don’t have air conditioning,” she said.
“In Dubai, when it's hot, you stay inside so you don’t suffer. Here, you can't escape it.”
There is one advantage to summer in the UK, said Ms Bains. “In Dubai the humidity is much worse.”
Ms Bains and Mr Al Zeyoudi agreed the UAE has better infrastructure for dealing with the sizzling heat.
“Our country is better equipped when it comes to dealing with the heat. The Dubai Metro, for example, has air conditioning all the time,” said Mr Al Zeyoudi.
Britain’s infrastructure isn’t designed for extreme temperatures. The London Underground network fares particularly badly in hot temperatures, with the Bakerloo line seeing a top temperature of 31°C in one of its carriages during last year’s heatwave.
Public Health England warned people to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, stay hydrated and check on elderly and unwell family and friends.
While Emiratis and UAE residents would rather stay inside during the hot weather, British people enjoyed getting out in the sun.
“It's the opposite here, you think: ‘I don’t know when I’ll see the sun like this again, let me get out and get sunbathing’," said Ms Bains.
Those who live in the Emirates know how to stay cool. Ms Bains sits next to a fan as she works and Mr Al Zeyoudi is keeping hydrated.
“I am having many drinks, juices, water, cold beverages and lots of ice,” he said.
Kandy Ackland, a teacher living in Ras Al Khaimah, shared her tactics for keeping cool.
"Here in the UK I'm just keeping a breeze through the apartment by having the windows open. Keeping the blinds down during the day helps too.
"People walk slower in the UAE and I'm doing that here now."
Brits may be basking in the sunshine, but the reason behind the heatwave might dampen the happy mood.
“These record hot days are probably due to climate change,” says Mr Dale.
“That's the icing on the cake - we'd only be talking a degree more or half a degree more, but that's a hell of a lot in meteorology.”
Mr Al Zeyoudi is also worried about the impact carbon emissions are having on the weather.
“Our globe is changing very quickly. Every summer is hotter than the last, and every winter colder than the last,” he said.
The heatwave is the third to hit Europe this year after a similar weather pattern pushed temperatures above 20 degrees for several days in February, sparking wildfires in northern England and the Alps. A June heatwave broke temperature records in France and saw wildfires ignite in Germany, Portugal and Spain.
Good news for those finding the temperatures in the UK suffocating, though. Temperatures are due to return to a normal range for the UK over the weekend.
“These few days that we're getting now will be short-lived. It's not a 1976 summer that lasted give-or-take four or five weeks,” said Mr Dale.
Third Test
Day 3, stumps
India 443-7 (d) & 54-5 (27 ov)
Australia 151
India lead by 346 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Moon Music
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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
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Rating: 3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
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CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
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