UAE icy conditions reported, with the big chill to continue: weather experts
January 12, 2021, 11:52 am

UAE icy conditions reported, with the big chill to continue: weather experts

General view of the United Arab Emirates, November 21, 2018. (File photo: Reuters)

With temperatures plummeting to below zero in some parts of the UAE, the chilly weather will continue through this week, the National center of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) has warned.

Forecasters from the NCMS said an icy snap in the air in parts of the UAE, saw the lowest temperature recorded in Al Ain as temperatures plunged to 1.4°C on the UAE’s highest peak. In the Wadi it plunged to -2C, on Sunday, Dr Ahmed Habibi, a special metreologist told Al Arabiya English.

Other parts of the UAE have reported temperatures as low as -5°C.

Some social media users took to Twitter to remark on the icy blast sweeping across the Emirates.

One remarked she had had to invest in a heater to beat the chill.

https://twitter.com/abiyethiopian/status/1348656519882153984

Dr Habibi said: “The last few days in the country have been very cold because of a northeasterly air mass. “It has left people feeling very cold, especially at night and in early morning.

“We have had some temperatures comes below zero; which meant water freezing over surfaces.”

From Sunday "there will be increased humidity, but there will also be a likelihood of fog and mist, especially on Friday and Saturday morning. So drivers will need to take extra care,” he added.

It follows wet, windy and icy weather across the wider region in recent weeks.

At the weekend, heavy rainfall led to floods in Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il region, including its main city and surrounding suburbs.

In December, Beirut experienced a historical hailstorm, leaving a white blanket across the country for day, causing massive floods across the capital.

source: Jennifer Bell

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.