Why is Dubai so hot? There is a mass exodus of Dubai residents during the peak summer months due to the very hot temperatures and high humidity.
The people who leave Dubai during the conditions are very wise because such high humidity is very difficult to live in and causes feelings of low energy and lethargy, which can even result in hyperthermia.
Dubai’s heat is due to several factors, including being near the equator, the flat and desert topography, and the Persian Gulf with its hot currents.
The desert’s lack of vegetation means there is no barrier to the hot winds, and the changing jet streams are causing extreme weather events.
While Dubai attracts the fourth-largest number of visitors internationally, it achieves this on the back of a very uncomfortably hot climate.
If you are curious why Dubai, and the rest of the UAE, are so hot while other countries situated on a similar latitude are not. This article will provide the answers.
The Impact Of Latitude On Dubai’s Temperature
Latitude has a significant impact on climate conditions. The general principle is that temperatures are highest at the equator and reduce the further south or north you go until you reach the poles, where it is coldest.
However, this is not the sole influence, as seen below.
Countries situated on the same latitude as Dubai.
- Monterrey, Mexico
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Saltillo, Mexico
- Guadalupe, Mexico
- Kunming, China
How do the Climates of the Cities in the Same Latitude Compare?
The climates of cities located at the same latitude can vary significantly based on a multitude of factors.
Latitude, which refers to a city’s position north or south of the equator, does provide a general framework for understanding climate, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Here, we’ll explore the climates of cities at the same latitude with the help of a table, which can differ due to various influencing factors.
| Dubai, UAE | Monterrey, Mexico | Taipei, Taiwan | Saltillo, Mexico | Guadalupe Mexico | Kunming, China | |
| Climate | hot desert climate | semi-arid climate | subtropical | Warm and Temperate | hot, and muggy | Subtropical
highland climate |
| Average Temp | 26.70C
(80.10F) |
21.3 °C (70.3 °F) | 21°C (70°F) | 16.90C(62.50F) | 21.3°C
(70.3°F) |
15.1°C 59.2°F |
| Highest Temp | 49.00C
(120.20F) |
32.1 °C
(89.8°F) |
34.30C(93.70F) | 33.30C(92°F) | 34.40C (94°F) | 23.3°C
(73.9)°F |
| Lowest Temp | 9.80C
(49.60F) |
9.4 °C
(48.9°F) |
19.1°C(66.30F) | 16.90C(31°F) | 10.0C (50°F) | 3.8°C
(38.8°F) |
| Rainfall | 5.12 in
(130 mm) |
24.0 inch (609 mm) | 102inches (2,590mm) | 1.46 inches (37mm) | 24.0 inches (609 mm) | 60.4 inches (1534m) |
| Notable weather Features | Sandstorms | Monsoon season | N/A | partly cloudy year-round | the mildest climate in China | |
| Landscape | Arid Desert and a flat coastline | Coastal plains, temperate highlands, and extensive mountains | Mountainous in the east, with gently sloping plains in the west | Semi-arid Desert | Agricultural Valle Boarded By Mountains | The northern edge of Dian Lake surrounded limestone hill landscapes. |
| Coastal Town | Yes | No | No – 110km from the coast | No | No | No |
| Altitude | Sea Level | 1,771 Feet (540 meters) | 679.13 feet (207 meters) | 5,249 feet (1,600 meters) | 672 feet (205 meters) | 6,234 feet (1,900 metres) |
As can be seen, while some areas have certain similarities with the weather conditions, generally, the climates are significantly different.
Average Temperatures
The temperatures vary significantly in each city:
- The highest temperature is recorded in Dubai, 49.0 0C (120.2 0F)
- The lowest temperature was recorded at Kunming, China, 3.8 °C (38.8°F)
- The highest average temperature was recorded in Dubai, 26.7 0C (80.10F)
- The lowest average temperature was recorded at Kunming, China, 15.1°C (59.2°F)
Average Rainfall
Rainfall averages vary massively between each city:
- The city with the lowest rainfall is Saltillo, Mexico, 1.46 inches (37mm)
- The city with the highest rainfall is Taipei, Taiwan, 102 inches (2,590mm)
- Dubai’s annual rainfall is 5.12 inches (130 mm)
The Impact Of Topography On Dubai’s Temperature
Topography is the placement and shape of naturally occurring geographic features in a specific area.
Topography creates climate differences over very small distances. For example:
- A windy hilltop with high evaporation and transpiration will have a drier climate.
- A sheltered ravine that may be very close to the windy hilltop may have a cooler wetter. climate.
- South-facing slopes will be sunnier and drier than nearby North-facing slopes in the Northern hemisphere.
- North-facing slopes will be sunnier and drier than nearby South-facing slopes in the southern hemisphere.
- An area close to a water body will generally have a milder climate.
- In warmer conditions, an area close to a body of water will have higher humidity levels.
- Mountains force winds up, and as the air also cools and becomes less able to hold water vapor. The water vapor condenses, and rain or snow falls on the leeward side of the mountain.
How Do These Factors Affect Dubai?
- Dubai’s topography consists of a flat arid desert on one side and a large body of water (the Persian Gulf) on the other side.
- Because it is so flat, there is very little to influence the precipitation.
As a result, the climate is semi-arid.
The average rainfall seems to be increasing. It is suspected that the reason for this is the massive building projects and high-rise skyscrapers being built and which have acted similarly to mountain ranges.
The Impact Of Sea Currents On Dubai’s Temperature
Dubai lies on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
This large body of warm water experiences average temperatures of 91.40F (33°C), and even in winter the temperature averages is 69.80F (21°C).
It has an enormous impact on Dubai’s average temperature and the water oxygen levels in the Persian Gulf.
As water temperature increases, so does the salt level in the water. It increases the evaporation rate, and a corresponding oxygen level is removed from the water.
As global warming takes effect, this could have a disastrous impact on sea life in the region.
Being next to the Persian Gulf results in very high humidity levels with such high temperatures.
These make Dubai a very uncomfortable city to live in through the hottest months of June, July, and August.
The Impact Of Vegetation On Dubai’s Temperature
Vegetation has a substantial impact on climate patterns.
- Plants process and release water vapor (necessary for cloud formation)
- Pants absorb and emit energy used to drive weather
- Plants control the humidity and temperature immediately surrounding the leaves and resulting in their micro-weather in transpiration
Unfortunately, Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert.
Dubai has fewer naturally or artificially propagated plant life than other international cities.
Outside the city, desert hyacinths grow in the sabkha plains east of the city. While acacia trees, wild grasses, the occasional date palm, and Ghaf trees grow in the flat plains near the Western Al Hajar mountains.
The effect of such minimal vegetation is higher surface temperatures and lower precipitation.
The Impact Of Air Currents On Dubai’s Temperature
As the Arctic heats up, changes occur to the polar jet stream. The jet streams are at high altitudes (nine to twelve kilometers above sea level) and fast-moving currents (129 to 400 kilometers per hour) of air that regulate the earth’s weather systems.
Climate change is causing the jet streams to slow down and resulting in more severe weather conditions.
In 2015 the two most severe dust storms hit the Gulf and caused tornadoes that lifted 250 tones of desert sand into the air. It was causing a five-day dust storm that moved southeast over the Arabian Gulf.
Due to the changing jet streams, the frequency of significant weather events and dust storms is increasing.
Why Is Dubai So Hot – Conclusion
Dubai is so hot due to a confluence of factors that negatively impact the city’s climate. These include the Latitude Dubai is situated on, its topography.
It is a coastal town on the Persian Gulf, the lack of vegetation, and the fact that the polar jet streams are weakening.
While Dubai is actively trying to change the situation, the changing climates are working against them and making it more difficult to impact the temperature.