Dark rain clouds over Dubai in January. Pawan Singh / The National
Dark rain clouds over Dubai in January. Pawan Singh / The National
Dark rain clouds over Dubai in January. Pawan Singh / The National
Dark rain clouds over Dubai in January. Pawan Singh / The National

UAE

UAE weather: Cooler spell ahead with a chance of rain

Temperatures will be below 30°C and dusty conditions are expected by midweek

Nick Webster
Nick Webster

March 19, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Rain is expected along the western region of the UAE on Monday as a cool period continues in the coming week.

A three-day report by the National Centre of Meteorology has forecast a cloudy start to the week, with sunny spells giving way to rain in western and inland areas.

Daytime temperatures will peak at about 28°C in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while it will be slightly warmer in Al Ain and along the east coast.

Fresh winds on Monday and into Tuesday will keep the weather cool, with more chance of scattered showers later in the week.

Light rainfall is expected in northern regions on Tuesday and into Wednesday, as winds from the north and east keep up the cooler temperatures.

Dust is likely to become more of a problem inland as winds gust up to 45 kilometres an hour, creating driving hazards in some parts of the country by midweek.

Cloud seeding in the UAE — in pictures

Hygroscopic (water-attracting) salt flares are attached to an aircraft at Al Ain International Airport before a cloud-seeding flight operated by the National Centre of Meteorology. The UAE has been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation, which remains at less than 100 millimetres a year on average. All photos by Reuters
Hygroscopic (water-attracting) salt flares are attached to an aircraft at Al Ain International Airport before a cloud-seeding flight operated by the National Centre of Meteorology. The UAE has been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation, which remains at less than 100 millimetres a year on average. All photos by Reuters
Pilot Michael Anstis writes a weather report before the cloud-seeding flight from Al Ain.
Pilot Michael Anstis writes a weather report before the cloud-seeding flight from Al Ain.
An airport employee closes an aircraft door, with hygroscopic salt flares seen in the background, before the cloud-seeding flight.
An airport employee closes an aircraft door, with hygroscopic salt flares seen in the background, before the cloud-seeding flight.
Pilots Michael Anstis and Ahmed Al Jaberi receive instructions before the flight.
Pilots Michael Anstis and Ahmed Al Jaberi receive instructions before the flight.
The control room at the National Centre of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi.
The control room at the National Centre of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi.
An explanatory hologram of the cloud-seeding process in the National Centre of Meteorology control room in Abu Dhabi.
An explanatory hologram of the cloud-seeding process in the National Centre of Meteorology control room in Abu Dhabi.
Cloud-seeding flares in the National Centre of Meteorology control room.
Cloud-seeding flares in the National Centre of Meteorology control room.
Hygroscopic salt flares are attached to an aircraft during a cloud-seeding flight between Al Ain and Al Hayer. At 9,000 feet above sea level, the plane releases the flares into the most promising white clouds, hoping to trigger rainfall.
Hygroscopic salt flares are attached to an aircraft during a cloud-seeding flight between Al Ain and Al Hayer. At 9,000 feet above sea level, the plane releases the flares into the most promising white clouds, hoping to trigger rainfall.
Hygroscopic salt flares are attached to an aircraft during a cloud-seeding flight. Scientists in Abu Dhabi combine shooting the flares with releasing salt nanoparticles, a newer technology, into the clouds to stimulate and accelerate the condensation process and hopefully produce droplets big enough to then fall as rain.
Hygroscopic salt flares are attached to an aircraft during a cloud-seeding flight. Scientists in Abu Dhabi combine shooting the flares with releasing salt nanoparticles, a newer technology, into the clouds to stimulate and accelerate the condensation process and hopefully produce droplets big enough to then fall as rain.
Flares are released during a cloud-seeding flight between Al Ain and Al Hayer.
Flares are released during a cloud-seeding flight between Al Ain and Al Hayer.
Employees walk towards a hangar at Al Ain International Airport after a cloud-seeding flight.
Employees walk towards a hangar at Al Ain International Airport after a cloud-seeding flight.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Trump and Covid-19
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions

'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars

School uniforms report
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre V6

Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km

Price: Dh179,999-plus

On sale: now 

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)

Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)

Wednesday

Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)

Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)

Norwich City v Everton (9pm)

Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)

Thursday

Burnley v Watford (9pm)

Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)

Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)

Killing of Qassem Suleimani

Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

Brief scores:

Liverpool 3

Mane 24', Shaqiri 73', 80'

Manchester United 1

Lingard 33'

Man of the Match: Fabinho (Liverpool)

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Plastic tipping points
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Updated: March 19, 2023, 8:16 AM`
DubaiAbu DhabiWeather