UAE hits record May temperature of 51.6C

The United Arab Emirates recorded a temperature of 51.6 degrees Celsius in Sweihan on Saturday, marking the second consecutive day of breaching its May record, just 0.4C shy of the country’s highest ever temperature of 52C set in 2010. This year’s extreme heat, surpassing the previous May record of 50.2C, raises concerns about climate change, as the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. Outdoor workers face high heat stress, with significant implications for water and food security in the Middle East, as highlighted by recent studies.