Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi said the current weather is a ‘golden time’ for the UK. Courtesy Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi
Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi said the current weather is a ‘golden time’ for the UK. Courtesy Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi
Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi said the current weather is a ‘golden time’ for the UK. Courtesy Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi
Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi said the current weather is a ‘golden time’ for the UK. Courtesy Mohamed Ali AlZeyoudi

'It reminds me of home’: Emiratis say British heatwave is a breeze


Taylor Heyman
  • English
  • Arabic

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 record was beaten at 1.30pm when temperatures in Heathrow, west London soared to 36.9°C. Records continued to break throughout the day with the mercury hitting 37.7°C at nearby Kew.

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.”

A man falls asleep during the heat at St.James Park in London. EPA
A man falls asleep during the heat at St.James Park in London. EPA

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.

Temperatures soared across Europe. The National
Temperatures soared across Europe. The National

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

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

Last 10 NBA champions

2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Profile Periscope Media

Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)

Launch year: 2020

Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021

Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year

Investors: Co-founders

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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.

Company name: Farmin

Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Five personal finance podcasts from The National

 

To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes 

·

Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth 

·

What is a portfolio stress test? 

·

What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested? 

·

How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies 

·

Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?  

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • 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.
Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

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

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

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

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

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
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona