UAE weather: Rain, strong winds and 49°C heat forecast from Sunday
The National Centre of Meteorology predicts convective clouds over eastern areas bringing rainfall, with temperatures reaching 49°C inland and winds up to 45km/h stirring dust in some regions.
Rain, dust, fog and 49°C heat: What to expect in the UAE this week
The UAE is set for another spell of unsettled summer weather on Sunday, with rain-bearing clouds expected to develop over eastern areas and winds reaching up to 45km/h in some parts of the country.
The National Centre of Meteorology said conditions on Sunday would be fair to partly cloudy, with a chance of convective clouds forming over the east by the afternoon and bringing rainfall. Winds will be light to moderate but could strengthen around clouds, stirring up dust and reducing visibility in exposed areas.
The pattern of afternoon rainfall over the eastern regions is driven by intense daytime heating over the Hajar Mountains, which triggers convective cloud development. The combination of high temperatures and mountainous terrain creates ideal conditions for localized precipitation during the hottest hours of the day.
Temperatures will remain high, particularly inland, where maximums are forecast to range from 44°C to 49°C. Coastal and island areas could see highs of between 38°C and 43°C, while temperatures in the mountains are expected to reach between 33°C and 37°C. These readings are consistent with historical patterns, as August typically ranks among the hottest months in the UAE, with maximum temperatures frequently hovering between 48°C and 50°C. Earlier this month, Al Dhafra recorded the country's highest temperature of 2026 so far at 51.2°C on August 5.
Humidity is forecast to rise overnight and into Monday morning over some coastal areas. When warm, moisture-laden air from the Arabian Gulf moves inland during evening hours and cools rapidly overnight through radiative cooling, water vapor condenses as temperatures fall to the dew point, creating fog or mist. The Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea are expected to remain slight.
Weather outlook for the week ahead
The unsettled pattern is forecast to continue into the coming week. On Monday, convective clouds could again develop over eastern areas during the afternoon, with a possibility of rainfall and winds reaching 35km/h.
Conditions are expected to become more widespread on Tuesday, when rain-bearing clouds could form over both eastern and southern areas. Humidity overnight may also lead to fog or mist over some coastal and inland areas on Wednesday morning, while winds could reach 40km/h and cause blowing dust.
Wednesday could bring another round of convective clouds over eastern and southern areas, extending into some inland locations and accompanied by rain. Winds are forecast to strengthen to as much as 45km/h around clouds, raising dust and sand.
By Thursday, the chance of afternoon rain is expected to remain concentrated over eastern areas, with winds reaching up to 40km/h and humid conditions returning over some coastal areas overnight and into Friday morning.
Meteorological factors at play
The current weather patterns are influenced by several atmospheric systems. The Intertropical Convergence Zone, a low-pressure belt near the equator where northeast and southeast trade winds converge, is advancing northward and contributing to convective cloud formation across the UAE during August. Additionally, the Indian seasonal low-pressure system and thermal lows extending from the southwest are creating conditions favorable for both high temperatures and cloud development.
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance rainfall and support water security, the UAE has conducted 110 cloud-seeding missions so far in 2026, with operations continuing whenever suitable convective clouds develop.
