A strengthening El Niño event is expected to influence weather conditions in the UAE later this year, with meteorologists forecasting increased humidity, cloud cover and a higher chance of rainfall from autumn.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has forecast a strong El Niño developing between July and September 2026, with warming sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.
Ahmed Habib, a meteorologist at the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), said El Niño’s impact varies by region and is currently more pronounced in East Asia. He noted that while the UAE is expected to remain largely unaffected during summer, its influence is likely to become more noticeable in October and November, increasing the likelihood of rainfall without significantly raising temperatures.
The UAE is expected to see daytime temperatures remain between 47°C and 49°C inland and 41°C and 44°C along the coast in the coming days.