UAE weather: Heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas expected today
Unsettled conditions to continue across multiple regions until Friday
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set for a spell of unsettled weather, with the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasting rain, strong winds and rough sea conditions across several parts of the country starting today (Tuesday).
The outlook points to fluctuating conditions through the week, with varying rainfall intensity and shifting wind patterns expected to impact both inland and coastal areas.
Residents are advised to remain alert as visibility may be reduced at times due to dust and sand.
Due to the current weather, conditions, the Ministry of Interior urges you to take caution and adhere to traffic laws and stay away from water ponds and fast-moving streams to avoid vehicle from sliding.@moiuae pic.twitter.com/TivX0OUMTZ
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 23, 2026
Tuesday weather
Tuesday is expected to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies, with convective cloud formation leading to rainfall of varying intensity across most regions. The NCM indicates that showers will be scattered but could become more widespread as the day progresses, extending into the night across western, eastern and coastal areas, as well as offshore islands.
Winds will be light to moderate, picking up at intervals and becoming strong with cloud activity. Speeds are forecast between 10 and 25 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 45 km/h. These conditions are likely to raise dust and sand, reducing horizontal visibility, particularly in exposed areas.
Sea conditions will also be affected. In the Arabian Gulf, waves will range from slight to moderate, turning rough at times with cloud cover. The Oman Sea is expected to show a similar pattern, with slight to moderate waves becoming rough during periods of cloud activity.
Midweek outlook
Unstable conditions are expected to persist into Wednesday, with rainfall continuing across different parts of the UAE at intervals. Daytime showers are likely, while rainfall may become more concentrated during the night, particularly over eastern regions and Al Ain. A gradual easing in rainfall intensity is forecast towards the late hours of the night.
On Thursday, rainfall chances are expected to remain weak during the morning before increasing again in the afternoon and evening. Northern and eastern regions, along with Al Ain, are likely to see renewed cloud activity and showers, which may extend towards coastal areas, islands and western regions by late night.
Friday forecast
By Friday, rainfall is expected to begin over islands, coastal and western regions during the day, gradually spreading to cover most parts of the country. Cloud cover will remain significant through the daytime hours, contributing to continued precipitation across several areas.
However, the NCM indicates that rainfall chances and cloud cover are expected to decrease during the night, signalling a potential easing of the unstable weather pattern towards the end of the week.
Throughout this period, changing wind conditions and intermittent rainfall are likely to influence visibility and sea state, particularly in coastal zones and open waters.