01 · The problem
What is happening
Dubai's summers combine very high air temperatures with humidity from the warm waters of the Gulf. The IPCC identifies the region as one where extreme heat is projected to intensify further. Rapid urban growth, dark surfaces and waste heat from air conditioning add to local heat. The UAE applies a mandatory midday work break for outdoor labourers during the hottest summer months, and the city's design increasingly emphasises shading, cooling and indoor connectivity.
High severity. Serious, widespread effects requiring sustained action. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.
02 · Causes
Why it is happening
- 01
Desert climate in a warming world
The region's already extreme temperatures are rising with global warming.
- 02
Gulf humidity
Warm, shallow seas increase humidity, raising the heat stress felt by the body.
- 03
Urban heat island
Paved surfaces, buildings and waste heat from cooling systems warm the city further.
03 · Impacts
Who and what it affects
- 01
Risk to outdoor workers
Construction and other outdoor workers face heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
- 02
Very high cooling demand
Air conditioning is essential, driving electricity use and peak demand.
- 03
Limits on outdoor activity
Public life shifts indoors and to cooler hours during summer.
04 · Solutions
Documented approaches
Midday work ban
A seasonal ban on outdoor work during the hottest midday hours.
Expected effectReduces heat exposure for outdoor labourers when enforced.
Shaded, walkable design
Shaded walkways, cooled transit stations and traditional design principles such as narrow lanes and wind towers.
Expected effectImproves comfort and reduces heat exposure in public space.
Efficient cooling
District cooling and building efficiency standards.
Expected effectReduces electricity required for cooling.
05 · Key indicators
What can be measured
No reliable quantitative indicator is included for this issue. TerraLens shows figures only where a credible source supports them — consult the sources below for current data.
06 · Sources
Where this comes from
- [1]Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science BasisIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Aug 2021ipcc.ch(opens in a new tab)
- [2]National Center of MeteorologyUnited Arab Emiratesncm.gov.ae(opens in a new tab)
- [3]Heat and health fact sheetWorld Health Organizationwho.int(opens in a new tab)
Links open the publishing organisation's site. Some point to the publisher's main page, where the named report or dataset can be found.