The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) shows UAE early warnings in three colours, and each asks something different of you. Green is information and needs no action, orange means preparing to take action to protect lives, and red means the stage where action is needed, according to the UAE government portal. The warnings are updated in real time.
What does each alert colour mean?
| Colour | Official meaning | What it asks of you |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Information | No action needed |
| Orange | The need for preparation to take action to protect lives | Read the alert and get ready to act |
| Red | A stage where action is needed | Act on the instructions in the alert and from the authorities |
These definitions belong to the Early Warnings for All service, an initiative of the National Center of Meteorology. It covers earthquakes, tropical storms, floods, forest fires and droughts, so the same three colours are used for hazards other than rain.
Is there a yellow alert too?
Yes in practice: NCM weather bulletins regularly carry yellow alerts alongside orange and red ones, for hazards such as convective clouds, dust and fog. The official early warning page lists only green, orange and red and does not define yellow, so read the text of a yellow alert (the hazard, the areas and the hours it covers) rather than assuming what it means.
Where can you check an alert yourself?
NCM lists several official places, so you do not need to rely on a forwarded message:
- The NCM website, ncm.gov.ae, whose menu includes expected weather and a warnings map.
- The Early Warnings for All platform at ew4all.ncm.gov.ae, which NCM links from its homepage.
- The NCM weather apps: “UAE Weather” on Android and “Weather UAE” on iOS.
- The NCM account on X, @NCMUAE.
- For the sea, the NCM sea condition service at albahar.ncm.gov.ae.
The government’s weather conditions and environmental status page links to these services and carries the early warning definitions quoted above.
What should you do at each level?
- Green: read it as information. No action is needed.
- Orange: open the alert and note the hazard, the area and the hours. This level is the point to prepare, so settle your plans for those hours before they begin.
- Red: follow the instructions in the alert and any instructions from the authorities.
- If you need help at any level, the official numbers are Police 999, Civil Defence 997, Ambulance 998 and the electricity authority 991.
One practical step: save the NCM app and bookmark the warnings map on ncm.gov.ae today, so the first time you see an orange or red alert you already know where the details are. What to do near wadis, at sea and on the road when a warning is on is covered in our guide to UAE rain and unstable weather: wadis, roads, sea and fines.
Where to go next
- Wadis, roads, sea and fines when a weather warning is on
- Why one phone gets a UAE emergency alert and another does not
- UAE winter weather outlook and what El Niño could mean
- An example of an NCM alert for rain, dust and rough seas
- An example of an NCM wind alert during rain
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