Rain and Cooler Temperatures Sweep Abu Dhabi and Dubai as Winter Weather Continues

Residents across the UAE experienced a wet and chilly start to Sunday as winter weather tightened its grip on the Emirates, bringing intermittent rain, cooler temperatures, and overcast skies.

Light showers were reported across several areas during the morning, creating soggy conditions and a noticeable dip in temperatures. Abu Dhabi recorded further rainfall shortly before 5:00 pm, extending the damp spell into the evening.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), cool conditions are expected to persist throughout the day, with daytime temperatures ranging between the low and mid-20s°C. Night-time temperatures are forecast to drop to around 16°C in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The cold snap was particularly felt in mountainous regions, with temperatures plunging to 5.8°C in Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah, at around 4:00 am on Sunday. Earlier in the week, the mercury dipped even further, reaching 0.2°C on Thursday, reflecting typical winter conditions in higher altitudes.

Although the current weather instability is milder compared to the heavy downpours that affected the UAE last month, the cooler spell has drawn widespread attention. Even Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, commented on the chilly conditions by sharing a light-hearted computer-generated image of Dubai covered in snow. The post, set to Winter Has Come by Ramin Djawadi, humorously captured how the weather “will feel”.

More Rain and Fog Ahead

In its latest five-day forecast, the NCM warned of additional light rainfall on Monday, particularly in coastal, northern, and eastern regions. Winds may reach speeds of up to 40 km/h, adding to the wintry feel.

Fog is also expected during the early mornings on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially reducing visibility and posing challenges for motorists.

US Cold Front Disrupts Travel

Meanwhile, the winter weather system extended beyond the region, impacting international travel. Emirates airline cancelled several flights to and from the United States over the weekend due to severe winter storms affecting multiple US cities.

Routes to destinations including New York, Miami, Dallas, Washington, Boston, and Newark were temporarily suspended, with the airline citing hazardous weather conditions across large parts of the US.