DUBAI : On May 24, 2025, the temperature in the Sweihan region of Abu Dhabi peaked at 51.6°C, breaking the previous May record of 50.2°C set in Al Shawamekh in 2009. According to weather monitoring data, this is the highest May temperature the UAE has seen since comprehensive records began in 2003.

Officials from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported that the country’s temperatures have consistently remained 1.5°C above the historical average, highlighting the growing impact of global climate change on local weather conditions.

The monthly average maximum temperature for May was recorded at 40.4°C — well above the 39.2°C long-term average between 2003 and 2024. Meteorologists attribute the extreme heat to a combination of rising global temperatures and regional low-pressure systems originating from the south of the UAE.

The onset of summer, marked by the solstice on June 21, usually sees peak temperatures hovering between 47°C and 49°C, occasionally breaching 50°C. However, this year’s early surge suggests an intense summer ahead.

The UAE’s record-breaking temperatures are part of a broader global pattern. May 2025 was the Earth’s second-warmest May on record, trailing only May 2024, as per the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The period from March to May 2025 also ranked as the second-hottest spring ever recorded in the northern hemisphere.