Average temperatures in the UAE are almost 1.5°C higher than they were 60 years ago – and projections show the mercury could rise by another 2.4°C in the next 40 years.
An analysis of World Bank data shows the Emirates and the Gulf are highly susceptible to climate change, with summer temperatures already some of the highest on the planet.
The figures show an average rise of 0.75°C since 1990 alone.
Although the figures may sound negligible, such an increase can have a dramatic impact on weather patterns, crop growth and the wider environment.
A separate analysis of rainfall shows annual precipitation has been erratic over the past half century.
The World bank figures echo previous studies that predict the Emirates will see hotter, more humid summers and more unpredictable rainfall in winter. They also explain the heat Emiratis have been suffering through.
Super and ultra-extreme heatwaves
Earlier this month, the town of Sweihan near Al Ain made headlines when it was the hottest place in the world for a day, with an official temperature of 51.8°C.
Residents said the heat felt like an 'inferno' and air conditioning units struggled to cool their homes.
The country began the normally dry summer with a five week blast of near-daily humidity that reached 90 per cent at times.
Yet compared to heatwaves of the future, it has almost been mild.
"The most extreme events that we have experienced so far will become the regular," warns Dr George Zittis, an associate research scientist at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre of the Cyprus Institute.
His recent research, the first of its kind focused explicitly on the Middle East and involving scientists from the region, projects that by mid-century, 'super and ultra-extreme heatwaves', where temperatures above 56°C could last for weeks on end, will become increasingly common. By the end of the century they could happen annually should business-as-usual emissions continue.
"The Middle East is considered a climate change hotspot, because we expect the temperature to increase more during the summer season...we expect an expansion of the summer season.
"We are talking about events we have never seen in the region," he says.
Extreme humid heat events
In addition to severe heatwaves, it is also getting more humid. According to research led by Dr Julian Bolleter of the University of Western Australia in Perth on 'wet-bulb' temperature, coastal urban areas like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah will see the greatest impacts, despite being less hot than inland cities such as Al Ain and Al Dhaid.
“While these [inland] areas are slightly hotter in summer, the air is considerably drier, and thus wet-bulb temperatures reached will not be as extreme,” according to the paper.
Wet-bulb temperature (TW) is a measurement of air temperature and humidity, and higher readings mean more severe, unbearable conditions. Any wet-bulb temperature exceeding 35°C is considered extreme, a phenomenon that has only been recorded 14 times on land.
These typically rare humid heat events have become less so since 1979, and are forecast to become even more frequent in future. They are most prevalent in the Gulf region.
Unfortunately, staying inside all day is not a solution.
“Cities need people outside doing things,” said Bolleter.
“You cannot air condition the entire city. There’s a big concern if there was a big power failure.”
Instead, he calls for policymakers to consider proactive planning of urban centres away from coastal areas.
“While these areas are slightly hotter in summer, the air is considerably drier, and thus wet bulb temperatures will not be as extreme.”
Sustainable development in the desert
Just as the UAE has sought to find global solutions to climate change, evidenced in its bid to host Cop28 and push for alternative energy, it is also preparing for local effects such as increasing temperatures and sea-level rise.
The Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi told The National that, in cooperation with other government agencies, it had considered what measures might be needed.
“As the process of diversification accelerates, and the dependence on oil and gas diminishes, the likelihood of concentrating more infrastructure and development further inland could increase,” it said.
It added that a process to manage sustainable development in coastal areas was being developed.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
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Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
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Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
