Few places in the world get as hot as Abu Dhabi in the peak of summer. While old-time Emiratis devised various methods to beat the heat, for most of us the extreme conditions are a time to be prepared, whether it is in taking care of the body or ensuring that the car operates safely
For anyone who hasn’t noticed, summer has arrived. Hotels and restaurants are packing away the patio furniture, companies must observe the midday break, and the best place for a weekend stroll is an air-conditioned mall. So what does it mean to be hot? We look at the highs and lows of the rising thermometer from every angle.
The human body
While the body is generally very good at regulating itself, extremely high temperatures and excessive exposure to ultraviolet light can sometimes be too much for it to handle.
Normal body temperature is 37°C, and the body tries to maintain this using its sweat glands and muscles. When it gets cold, body hairs will stand on end to trap warmth.
When temperatures rise, the body tries to cool down by increasing blood flow to its surface, the skin. This causes the body to sweat, which as it evaporates, cools the body down.
Excessive sweating can lead to heat exhaustion, which causes dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating and a slightly raised body temperature. Those suffering from the heat should rest in a cool area and drink plenty of fluids to try to replenish those lost through sweating.
Heat stroke, where the body cannot control its temperature, causes confusion, high body temperature, a rapid heartbeat, headache, seizures and hot, dry skin or heavy sweating. This requires immediate medical attention as it can be deadly.
Exposure to ultraviolet light is another concern as this can cause eye damage, skin ageing, sunburn and also skin cancer. The amount of it penetrating the Earth’s ozone layer varies and is measured using a scale known as the UV index.
According to the website accuweather.com, the reading for Abu Dhabi yesterday was 12. The World Health Organisation says any reading on the scale above 11 poses an extreme risk of harm.
To combat it, wear sun cream with a sun protection factor of 30+ and avoid being in the sun for three hours before and three hours after solar noon.
Someone working outside during the summer should drink at least two litres of water every couple of hours, take regular breaks, get regular sleep and add a little extra salt to their meals.
Sitting in stationary cars in the summer can also be incredibly dangerous, with temperatures reaching 30°C higher than the outside within just 10 minutes of the vehicle being stationary.
* Mitya Underwood
Heat and the city
If you want to find the coolest sport as the mercury climbs during the summer, the best thing to do is jump in a canoe and paddle to the nearest mangrove swamp.
Research has shown that the mangroves, which grow in abundance on the eastern shore of Abu Dhabi island, can be as much as 5°C cooler than the surrounding areas in the hottest months.
This dense canopy of green covering the water reduces temperature, making them a haven for birds and fish. Even without a boat, it is still possible to enjoy the cooling effect of the mangroves.
A study by Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute of Science and Technology found that the amount of greenery offshore and on land made the capital feel noticeably cooler in the centre than the surrounding suburbs, where there was much less vegetation.
This is a curious inversion to what happens in much of the rest of the world, where a phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI) has buildings absorbing the Sun’s heat during the day then releasing it at night.
Cities such as Abu Dhabi still experience the effects of UHI, but they are offset by the height of the buildings that provide shade and channel the wind. Greenery adds moisture to the air and makes everything feel that bit cooler.
The suburbs, in contrast, are mostly low-rise buildings with wider roads, offering little shade and set in mostly desert surroundings.
Masdar is now extending its research into UHI to Dubai and Doha, with evidence that using building materials such as marble and stone tend to reflect the Sun’s rays rather than absorb them.
Many of the newest buildings incorporate heat-saving elements into their design, including the twin Al Bahar towers of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, the exteriors of which are covered in 2,000 parasol-like shades that open and close as the Sun rises and sets.
The materials being used for the new Louvre Abu Dhabi mean that the amount of heat the building, covered by a huge dome, will absorb has been reduced by 71 per cent, while the new Al Fayah Park on Airport Road will be entirely covered by a 20-metre-high canopy. Al Fayah means shade.
Experts say that careful urban planning can further reduce city summer temperatures by up to 6°C. That is something with which everyone can be cool.
* James Langton
Behind the wheel
The car, one thing most of us take for granted, is subject to more abuse in this extreme climate than you could possibly imagine.
If it gets you where you want to go you should probably pat it on the roof and say “well done”, but then you might burn your hand.
Everything gets hammered. Obvious examples are the air-conditioning units, working full pelt for months and putting an extra strain on the battery, the life of which is drastically reduced compared to most other regions.
Tyres expand at an exponential rate on boiling road surfaces, their pressures increase and, if they’re not in tip-top condition, they are likely to explode.
Engine oil has to work hard for its living and its life is also reduced.
Let’s not forget your car’s actual structure. Modern paint processes have resulted in coatings that flex and contract without cracking, flaking or fading.
But if your car is getting on a bit, the intense heat and sunlight of the UAE’s summers will no doubt have taken their toll. Rubber seals perish more quickly and interior plastics can warp and crack.
Most car makers are, however, hugely diligent these days when it comes to pre-production testing.
Many have set up shop here, putting new models through their paces on our roads and dunes to make sure that we, as their eventual owners, aren’t left high and dry when the mercury heads for the sky.
* Kevin Hackett, motoring editor
In the old days
Even in August, Aisha Al Dabdoob received guests outside on her patio.
Ms Dabdoob, a healer in her seventies from Wadi Al Baih in Ras Al Khaimah, would tell her visitors that the best way to beat the heat is to greet the heat.
She would look at her air-conditioning unit with disdain bordering on suspicion. Fresh air is the best air, Ms Dabdoob would say.
It is a common view held by elders in RAK, who sit outside every day for a morning round of cards or an afternoon tea, regardless of what the thermostat says.
Modern families, however, survive summer by switching on the air conditioning and flying off for extended holidays in Switzerland or London.
Even in Ms Dabdoob's youth, people survived the heat by migration. High summer, or gaith, was harvest time for dates and for pearls. Men left on merchant-financed ships to the lower Arabian Gulf to oyster beds. Families migrated from the coast, high mountains and desert to shady, water-rich palm groves for the date harvest between June and September. Even after the collapse of pearling, the summer migration continued.
They came by camel and boat, from as far as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to the gardens at the base of the Hajjar mountains.
Communities grow thick with temporary palm-frond houses. Those who did not own a garden could find work at farms.
Summer was a social time, for business, matchmaking and marriages.
During the season, families slept on raised platforms to catch the wind and lived in arish houses built of loosely woven palm fronds. The winter palm house, or khaimah, was tightly woven to keep in the heat. The arish allowed cool breezes to flow freely.
Urban centres and markets emptied in summer. Only foreign shopkeepers remained behind.
* Anna Zacharias
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Our House, Louise Candlish,
Simon & Schuster
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Superliminal%20
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20One%20%26amp%3B%20X%2FS%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PC%20and%20Mac%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
RESULTS
Catchweight 63.5kg: Shakriyor Juraev (UZB) beat Bahez Khoshnaw (IRQ). Round 3 TKO (body kick)
Lightweight: Nart Abida (JOR) beat Moussa Salih (MAR). Round 1 by rear naked choke
Catchweight 79kg: Laid Zerhouni (ALG) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ). Round 1 TKO (punches)
Catchweight 58kg: Omar Al Hussaini (UAE) beat Mohamed Sahabdeen (SLA) Round 1 rear naked choke
Flyweight: Lina Fayyad (JOR) beat Sophia Haddouche (ALG) Round 2 TKO (ground and pound)
Catchweight 80kg: Badreddine Diani (MAR) beat Sofiane Aïssaoui (ALG) Round 2 TKO
Flyweight: Sabriye Sengul (TUR) beat Mona Ftouhi (TUN). Unanimous decision
Middleweight: Kher Khalifa Eshoushan (LIB) beat Essa Basem (JOR). Round 1 rear naked choke
Heavyweight: Mohamed Jumaa (SUD) beat Hassen Rahat (MAR). Round 1 TKO (ground and pound)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammad Ali Musalim (UAE beat Omar Emad (EGY). Round 1 triangle choke
Catchweight 62kg: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR). Round 2 KO
Catchweight 88kg: Mohamad Osseili (LEB) beat Samir Zaidi (COM). Unanimous decision
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
THE POPE'S ITINERARY
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
Favourite book: What I know for sure by Oprah Winfrey
Favourite quote: “Social equality is the only basis of human happiness” Nelson Madela. Hometown: Emmen, The Netherlands
Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Huddersfield Town permanent signings:
- Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
- Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
- Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
- Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
- Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
- Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
- Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
- Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
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360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
New schools in Dubai
Story%20behind%20the%20UAE%20flag
%3Cp%3EThe%20UAE%20flag%20was%20first%20unveiled%20on%20December%202%2C%201971%2C%20the%20day%20the%20UAE%20was%20formed.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20designed%20by%20Abdullah%20Mohammed%20Al%20Maainah%2C%2019%2C%20an%20Emirati%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMr%20Al%20Maainah%20said%20in%20an%20interview%20with%20%3Cem%3EThe%20National%3C%2Fem%3E%20in%202011%20he%20chose%20the%20colours%20for%20local%20reasons.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20black%20represents%20the%20oil%20riches%20that%20transformed%20the%20UAE%2C%20green%20stands%20for%20fertility%20and%20the%20red%20and%20white%20colours%20were%20drawn%20from%20those%20found%20in%20existing%20emirate%20flags.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Ukraine%20exports
%3Cp%3EPresident%20Volodymyr%20Zelenskyy%20has%20overseen%20grain%20being%20loaded%20for%20export%20onto%20a%20Turkish%20ship%20following%20a%20deal%20with%20Russia%20brokered%20by%20the%20UN%20and%20Turkey.%3Cbr%3E%22The%20first%20vessel%2C%20the%20first%20ship%20is%20being%20loaded%20since%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20war.%20This%20is%20a%20Turkish%20vessel%2C%22%20Zelensky%20said%2C%20adding%20exports%20could%20start%20in%20%22the%20coming%20days%22%20under%20the%20plan%20aimed%20at%20getting%20millions%20of%20tonnes%20of%20Ukrainian%20grain%20stranded%20by%20Russia's%20naval%20blockade%20to%20world%20markets.%3Cbr%3E%22Our%20side%20is%20fully%20prepared%2C%22%20he%20said.%20%22We%20sent%20all%20the%20signals%20to%20our%20partners%20--%20the%20UN%20and%20Turkey%2C%20and%20our%20military%20guarantees%20the%20security%20situation.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
