The UAE officially entered summer on Saturday, June 21, ushering in hotter days and more humid nights, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).
As the summer solstice took place at 6:42 AM UAE time, the Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG) explained this phenomenon as the moment “when the sun reaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky,” as stated by Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at DAG.
Residents can expect generally fair to partly cloudy skies, with daytime heat intensifying across the country. Temperatures are set to peak at 45°C in Al Ain, 41°C in Dubai, and 40°C in Abu Dhabi. Nighttime lows will range between 27°C to 30°C.
Humidity is forecast to increase overnight and into Sunday morning, potentially leading to fog or mist, especially in coastal and inland areas. Winds will remain light to moderate, occasionally picking up to 30 km/h, and sea conditions are expected to be slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and calm in the Oman Sea.
The summer season in the UAE will stretch for three months, ending around the autumnal equinox on September 23. Authorities are urging the public to take extra precautions during this period, especially when outdoors, to protect themselves from heat-related risks.