Residents in some areas of Abu Dhabi may have found the Friday weather warnings confusing. Although rain, thunder, strong winds, and dust were observed in certain parts of the emirate, and some authorities announced precautionary closures, most of the population in central Abu Dhabi, including Corniche, did not notice significant changes—they faced the usual humid heat, dusty white skies, and blue-gray sea characteristic of most of the summer.
According to Maryam Al Shehi, head of the Marine Meteorology Department at the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the reason lies in the fact that the weather system affecting the emirate was concentrated mainly in the inland and southern regions, rather than in the capital.
Al Shehi explained that during the summer period, low-pressure systems affecting the region arrive from the east and southeast. She pointed to the areas around Al Ain and the mountains as the starting point for the development of convective clouds. The combination of intense surface heating, high humidity, and cooler air in the upper layers of the atmosphere creates atmospheric instability, allowing clouds to form rapidly and cause precipitation.
However, the resulting weather can be extremely localized. Al Shehi noted that low pressure is often present on the surface in the summer, but the same system rarely extends to the upper layers of the atmosphere. When both conditions coincide, the atmosphere becomes unstable enough to produce the dramatic clouds, rain, and wind observed in some parts of the emirate.
This process also explains why rain can be accompanied by sudden bursts of dust. When rain passes through a cloud, powerful downdrafts can develop. These descending air masses reach the ground and disperse, kicking up dust from the surface and causing sudden dusty, hazy conditions visible around some rain clouds.
Unlike typical horizontal winds, Al Shehi clarified that these currents first move vertically as the air descends from the cloud before spreading across the ground. The most active activity is usually concentrated in the inland areas, with Al Ain and the areas around the Hajar Mountains regularly experiencing summer rains.
Within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, areas such as Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Shahbah, Al Shamkha, Al Shamwah, and other inland locations may be affected if the system extends far enough west. The Ad-Dhafra region, including areas around Liwa, may also see summer precipitation due to the system's movement from the south.
This is why residents in one part of Abu Dhabi might wake up to thunder and rain, while people just a few dozen kilometers away see nothing more than humidity and haze. Al Shehi added that the timing of summer rain also varies across the UAE. The Eastern Mountains may observe convective activity earlier because the elevated terrain heats up quickly, promoting air uplift and cloud development. In Al Ain and the inland areas of Abu Dhabi, this process may take longer.
For instance, on Friday, rain began in some places around 6:30 PM after the ground had warmed sufficiently to trigger the air uplift necessary for convection. Al Shehi explained that 'the ground needs time to warm up,' describing how the air continues to rise until conditions are favorable for convective clouds.
The latest NCM forecast indicates that the unstable summer pattern has not yet ended. For Saturday, August 22, clear or partly cloudy skies are expected, with a possibility of convective cloud development over the eastern, southern, and western regions by noon, accompanied by precipitation. Winds will be light to moderate from the southeast to the northeast, occasionally strengthening to fresh or strong, causing dust and sand to be lifted. Speeds may reach 50 km/h.
Sunday promises another chance for afternoon rain over the eastern regions, with wind speeds up to 40 km/h, which could potentially cause dust lifting. On Monday, convective clouds may develop over the eastern regions, and on Tuesday, rain-bearing clouds may appear over the eastern and southern parts of the country. Winds on Tuesday could reach 40 km/h and cause dust lifting.
By Wednesday, the eastern and southern regions may again see afternoon convective clouds associated with precipitation, with wind speeds up to 45 km/h, causing dust and sand to be lifted. The sea is expected to remain calm in both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman throughout the forecast period. On Saturday morning, some coastal areas may also be humid, with a possibility of fog or haze.
Despite the frequency of some summer downpours, Al Shehi emphasized that they are not the factor that turns the desert landscape of the UAE green. Summer rainfall is generally too brief and localized to provide the sustained moisture needed for vegetation. She explained that 'for the land to become green, we need light rain that continues,' describing a scenario where lighter clouds pass over an area, rain falls gradually, and resumes the next day.
A sudden summer shower, even if intense, does not provide the same prolonged moisturizing effect. Al Shehi reported that the recent rain is not an isolated event; some inland and eastern parts of the UAE have seen precipitation almost daily since mid-July. 'From mid-July until now, there have been areas where it has rained almost every day,' she said, mentioning Al Ain and other inland areas, as well as locations in the east and north, including Al Shaoubib, Al Khair, Al Madam, Ad Dawid, Falaj Al Mualla, and parts of Ad Dhafra.
But these showers have been very localized, meaning that residents of Abu Dhabi city may see little or no rain, even when thunderstorms are occurring in other parts of the emirate.
For those under the familiar summer blanket of Abu Dhabi humidity, there is a small comfort. Al Shehi noted that residents sometimes notice the air becoming slightly drier after the rain. Before a summer downpour, the atmosphere can feel particularly oppressive, with the combination of heat and humidity creating a familiar 'heavy' or stuffy feeling. As soon as the rain starts, this feeling can temporarily ease.
However, the relief is unlikely to last long. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise again after the current dip, and Al Shehi noted that the thermometer may fluctuate throughout the remainder of August and September before a more noticeable seasonal decline. The latest NCM bulletin sets maximum temperatures for Saturday at 38–43°C along the coast and islands, 44–48°C in inland areas, and 33–37°C in the mountains.
Although the heat is far from over, Al Shehi advised residents not to expect temperatures to return to 50°C for the rest of the summer. She suggested that the temperature might rise back to around 48–49°C after the recent drop before fluctuating again. 'By the end of August, I hope it will be around 46–47°C,' she said, adding that September might remain at 46–47°C before temperatures begin to drop noticeably in October.
Temperatures are expected to fall to 41–43°C by October, and November should bring another significant drop, with temperatures around 39°C. From there, the temperature will continue to decrease into the cooler winter months, eventually dropping below 30°C. Al Shehi also pointed out that extreme temperatures of 50°C in the UAE occurred later than usual this year. 'Usually, we start reaching 50°C around the end of May,' she said. 'But this year, May, June, and July passed without reaching 50°C. We reached 50°C in August.'
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