Doctors are warning people to stay out of the sun as much as possible while the country remains in the grip of a heatwave.

With mercury peaking at 45?C and humidity at 80 per cent, people are more prone to heat exhaustion. At Liwa, Al Ain and Abu Dhabi temperatures reached 45?C. Humidity in the three cities peaked at 65, 70 and 85pc respectively. Clinics in Al Ain have already started receiving patients suffering from heat exhaustion.

Dr Riaz Ahmed Minhas, a physician at the Emirates Clinic and Medical Centre in Al Ain, said anyone who spends considerable time outdoors was prone to heat-related sickness. Such people must adopt protective measures."

Dr Khawara Jabeen, a medical practitioner at Delma Medical Centre in Al Ain, advises people to use light clothing and consume at least three litres of water every day if they spend time outdoors.

According to the Met office, the maximum temperature yesterday in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain was 44?C, while it was 43 in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, and 42 in Dubai, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain. Fujairah was the coolest city in the UAE with a maximum temperature of 36?C.

The maximum humidity was 85pc in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah; 80pc in Ajman and 70pc in Al Ain.