Abu Dhabi hits record 50.4°C, hottest since 2003

Abu Dhabi has recorded an extreme temperature of 50.4 degrees Celsius in the Al Shoyamek area on Friday, according to the United Arab Emirates' National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

This marks the highest temperature ever recorded in the month of May since records began in 2003. The previous record for May was 50.2°C, set in 2009, reports Gulf News, the biggest selling English newspaper in the UAE.

The NCM reported that the record temperature was logged at around 2:30 PM local time. Although summer has not yet fully set in, residents across the UAE are already feeling intense heat, exacerbated by rising humidity levels—particularly in coastal areas.

Light to moderate winds are offering little relief from the sweltering conditions.

This follows another climate milestone, as the UAE experienced its hottest April on record last month, with an average maximum temperature of 42.6°C—surpassing the previous April high of 42.2°C in 2017.