UAE records highest May temperature on record

The United Arab Emirates recorded its highest temperature ever for the month of May on Friday, with the mercury hitting 50.4 degrees Celsius (122.7°F) in Al Shawamekh, Abu Dhabi, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

The NCM announced on its official X account (formerly Twitter) that "the highest temperature recorded in the country today was 50.4°C in Al Shawamekh at 2:30 PM local time."

A spokesperson for the NCM confirmed to Agence France-Presse that this is the highest May temperature recorded in the UAE since records began in 2003.

The previous May record stood at 50.2°C, set in 2009. The NCM has tracked meteorological data across the UAE since 2003.

Even before the official start of summer, temperatures in the desert Gulf nation have been climbing to unusually high levels compared to recent years. In April, the UAE also logged one of its highest temperatures for the month in over two decades.

The average daily maximum temperature in April was 42.6°C, surpassing the previous April record of 42.2°C set in 2017, according to NCM data.

Amid the early-season heat, the NCM has issued public health advisories urging residents to stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours.