The UAE has spent much of the past week on the verge of the 50°C mark, with official National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) data showing several inland areas repeatedly recording temperatures above 48°C and peaking at 49.8°C.

The figures underline the intensity of the country’s summer heat, with July and August traditionally the hottest months of the year. While coastal cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi are often cooler than inland desert locations, the week’s readings show how extreme temperatures have become across parts of the UAE.

Across the seven daily updates, the hottest location in the UAE reached 48°C or higher every day, with three days climbing to 49.5°C or above.

July and August are typically the hottest months of the year in the UAE.

Average daytime highs are around 41°C, while overnight temperatures average approximately 31°C. Although temperatures vary by region and from day to day, inland areas frequently record significantly higher readings than coastal locations.

Conditions generally begin to ease during September, when average daytime temperatures fall below 40°C, although warm weather usually continues into October.

As temperatures remain exceptionally high, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has urged extra care for groups most vulnerable to heat exhaustion.

According to the ministry, those at greatest risk include:

• Older adults
• Children
• Pregnant women
• Outdoor workers
• Drivers and delivery workers
• Athletes and people exercising outdoors
• People with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and kidney disease
• People taking medications that affect fluid balance or reduce the body’s ability to sweat

MOHAP advises vulnerable groups to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight where possible and seek cooler, air-conditioned environments during periods of extreme heat.

Parents are also encouraged to ensure children drink water regularly, avoid outdoor play during the hottest parts of the day and never leave children unattended inside a vehicle.

Outdoor workers are advised to take breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas and report symptoms of heat exhaustion immediately.

The latest temperatures come during the peak of the UAE’s summer season, when prolonged periods of intense heat are common across the country.

While many inland monitoring stations have approached the 50°C mark over the past week, temperatures can vary considerably depending on location, with coastal areas generally recording lower daytime highs than desert regions.