UAE records hottest May in over two decades with temperatures reaching 51.6°C

Dubai: The UAE recorded 51.6°C temperatures in May 2025, marking the hottest May temperatures seen in more than twenty years. Temperature readings have been consistently elevated for extended periods each day, creating challenging conditions across the region.

Weather monitoring data shows that temperatures reached 51.6°C in the Sweihan area near Al Ain in Abu Dhabi on May 24th. This represents the highest May temperature recorded since comprehensive weather tracking began in 2003, surpassing the previous record of 50.2°C set in Al Shawamekh during 2009.

Recent observations by NCM officials show that temperatures in the UAE have risen over 1.5°C above historical norms, reflecting global climate trends. With the summer solstice on June 21 marking the start of summer, temperatures typically range from 47°C to 49°C, occasionally hitting 50°C.

In May, the average maximum temperature reached 40.4°C, notably exceeding the long-term average of 39.2°C from 2003 to 2024. This increase underscores the significant impacts of climate change on local weather.

Meteorological experts attribute the extreme heat to various atmospheric conditions, including low-pressure systems originating from the UAE's southern regions. Weather forecasts indicate that high temperatures will persist in the coming days, with further increases expected.

Recent temperature records match global climate trends. Reuters reports that May 2025 was the second-warmest May on record, following May 2024. The March through May period of 2025 also marked the northern hemisphere's second-hottest spring.

According to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), last month was the Earth's second-warmest May, contributing to the second-hottest March-May spring season overall for the northern hemisphere.

The extreme temperatures have contributed to notable weather events worldwide, including record-breaking heat conditions in Greenland, demonstrating the widespread nature of current climate patterns.