UAE records first 50°C day of 2026 as unsettled weather looms from Monday
NCM forecasts convective clouds with afternoon rainfall early next week
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recorded its first 50°C temperature of the year, marking another milestone in what has been an intensely hot summer as the country's peak heat period approaches its final days.
The highest temperature was registered in Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi, on Friday afternoon. At the same time, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast the return of rainfall to parts of the country early next week while continuing its rain enhancement programme.
According to the NCM, the highest temperature reached 50°C in Al Shawamekh at 2.30pm on Friday. It is the first time the mercury has reached the 50°C mark during the 2026 summer season.
#أعلى_درجة حرارة سجلت على الدولة هذا اليوم 50.0 درجة مئوية في الشوامخ (أبوظبي) الساعة 14:30 بالتوقيت المحلي لدولة الإمارات.#The_highest temperature recorded over the country today is 50.0°C in Al Shawamekh (Abu Dhabi) at 14:30 UAE Local time. pic.twitter.com/0enZDjbQmQ
— المركز الوطني للأرصاد (@ncmuae) August 1, 2026
Peak heat
The latest reading follows a steady rise in temperatures over recent days. On July 31, the country's highest temperature stood at 49.6°C in Sweihan, Al Ain, recorded at 1.45pm.
The extreme heat comes as the UAE remains within 'Jamrat Al Qayth', the traditional peak of the summer season, which continues until August 10. During this period, daytime temperatures in coastal areas generally range between 41°C and 43°C, while inland and desert regions commonly experience 45°C to 46°C. During heatwaves, temperatures in some interior locations can climb beyond 50°C.
The NCM had forecast interior temperatures on August 1 to range between 44°C and 49°C, with overnight lows expected to fall between 25°C and 34°C.
Rain outlook
Despite the intense heat, the NCM said the UAE has already conducted 110 cloud-seeding missions since the beginning of 2026 as part of its ongoing rain enhancement programme.
According to the centre, cloud-seeding operations are carried out throughout the year whenever suitable cloud formations develop. Winter weather systems usually produce widespread cloud cover across the country, while summer conditions favour the formation of convective clouds over the eastern and southern regions because of daytime heating and mountainous terrain.
Cloud seeding is designed to enhance rainfall from existing clouds rather than create new ones. In the UAE, specially equipped aircraft disperse tiny particles of natural salts into suitable convective clouds, encouraging water droplets to combine into larger drops that are more likely to fall as rain. Operations are conducted only when meteorological conditions are favourable.
Monday forecast
The NCM expects convective clouds accompanied by rainfall over the eastern and southern parts of the UAE on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, driven by a surface low-pressure system extending from the east together with an upper-level trough.
Across the rest of the country, weather is forecast to remain fair to partly cloudy through Tuesday, with afternoon cloud development, light to moderate south-easterly winds becoming north-westerly at times, gusts reaching 35km/h, and slight seas in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.