The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in the UAE, and What Dubai Reaches
The figure most often cited for the UAE’s all-time record is 52.1°C (125.8°F) at Sweihan in July 2002, before the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) began its modern records in 2003. The highest temperature in Dubai itself is lower: the long-running weather station near Dubai International Airport has logged about 49°C in July and about 48.8°C in August. The 50°C-plus readings in UAE headlines come from inland desert stations, not from Dubai city, and Dubai’s humidity makes summer days feel hotter than the thermometer suggests.
Recent Highs Reported by NCM
| Reading | Where and when |
|---|---|
| 52.1°C | Widely cited all-time UAE record, Sweihan, July 2002 |
| 51.8°C | Sweihan, Al Ain, 1 August 2025, the highest August reading in nine years and above the previous August record of 51.4°C |
| 51.6°C | Sweihan, Al Ain, 24 May 2025, a record for May that beat the previous 50.2°C set in 2009 |
| 51.2°C | Budu Dafs, Al Dhafra, 5 August 2026, the highest reading reported in the UAE that day |
Readings above 50°C now appear in most summers, but they are still the exception: they are spot readings from single stations on single afternoons. For that day’s reading, see our report on the 51.2°C reading in Al Dhafra.
Highest Temperature in Dubai
The weather station near Dubai International Airport has a record high of about 49°C, in July. Its highest readings in other months are about 48.8°C in August and about 47.9°C in June. Those are the best guide to how hot the city itself has been, and they are well below the desert stations that set the national records.
| Place | Reading | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Airport station | About 49°C (July), about 48.8°C (August), about 47.9°C (June) | Record highs for those months at the long-running city station |
| Sweihan, Al Ain | 51.6°C in May 2025, 51.8°C in August 2025 | Inland desert station that often logs the country’s highest reading |
| Budu Dafs, Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi | 51.2°C on 5 August 2026 | Not a Dubai figure |
The UAE’s extreme readings usually come from desert stations such as Sweihan in Al Ain and sites in Al Dhafra, so the figures in headlines are often not Dubai’s. In a normal year Dubai’s hottest months are July and August, when the average daily high is about 42°C.
Example Scenario: Reading a Heat Headline
The headline and figures in this example are made up. Imagine a headline that says ‘UAE hits 51°C’. Before you plan around it, check three things: which station recorded it, what time of day, and whether it is a spot reading or a forecast. A reading from a desert station in Al Dhafra at 2 pm says nothing about what the corniche in Dubai will feel like at 8 pm. For a plan in Dubai, look at the Dubai forecast and the humidity, not the national maximum.
Dubai’s Temperature and Humidity by Month
These are approximate long-term averages. Daily readings in a heatwave run several degrees above them.
| Month | Average high | Humidity |
|---|---|---|
| January | About 24°C | About 65% |
| February | About 26°C | About 64% |
| March | About 29°C | About 61% |
| April | About 34°C | About 54% |
| May | About 38°C | About 50% |
| June | About 40°C | About 55% |
| July | About 42°C | About 55% |
| August | About 42°C | About 53% |
| September | About 40°C | About 59% |
| October | About 36°C | About 60% |
| November | About 31°C | About 61% |
| December | About 26°C | About 65% |
The coolest, most comfortable stretch runs from November to March. From June to September the warm sea air pushes humidity up on the coast, particularly in the early morning and evening. For what to expect once the heat eases, see our guide to Dubai in November.
Why Humidity Matters as Much as the Number
High humidity stops sweat from evaporating, which is how the body cools itself. A 48°C day with high humidity can be more dangerous than a drier 51°C reading, because the heat index (what the air feels like) can climb well above the measured temperature. NCM flags humidity as a compounding factor, and fog can also cut visibility on major roads at the same time. Sudden humid spells on the coast are common in summer.
The Midday Work Ban
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) prohibits work under direct sunlight and in open-air areas from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm every day from 15 June to 15 September. This is the Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy, and it was applied again in 2026, the 22nd consecutive year it has run.
- Fines: reported at up to Dh5,000 per worker, and up to Dh50,000 where several workers are involved.
- Other penalties: depending on severity and repeat offences, the ministry can suspend a company’s file, downgrade its classification tier and refer cases to public prosecution, for example where workers are injured.
- What employers must provide: suitable shaded rest areas, cooling equipment, sufficient drinking water and hydration supplies, and first-aid equipment at worksites.
- Exemptions: certain jobs that cannot be suspended for technical reasons, and work needed to prevent hazards or repair faults affecting the community and essential services, such as water, electricity or telecom repairs.
- Rest stations: MoHRE says more than 12,000 rest stations were provided this year, including for delivery workers.
- Reporting a breach: call MoHRE on 600590000 or use the ministry’s app or website. The ministry provides free channels for community members to report violations.
Staying Safe in the Heat
- Check forecasts daily: the NCM app and website give temperature, humidity and fog alerts by emirate.
- Plan outdoor tasks for early morning or evening, and keep drinking water within reach.
- Watch for heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, headache and nausea mean it is time to get into shade or air conditioning and drink fluids.
- Never leave children or pets in a parked car, even briefly. Interior temperatures climb far above the outside air.
Where to Go Next
- When the UAE summer heat eases and nights cool down
- The 51.2°C reading in Al Dhafra
- Dubai in November: weather, attractions and costs
- UAE four-month weather outlook
- How UAE summer heat affects your car
