Unstable weather is expected to hit the UAE on March 5 and 6, with rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures on the way
Unstable weather is expected to hit the UAE on March 5 and 6, with rain, strong winds and cooler temperatures on the way.
According to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), the change in conditions is being caused by a surface low-pressure system combined with an upper-level trough and a cold air mass moving across the country.
Cloud build-up is expected to bring light to moderate rainfall in many areas, with heavy showers possible at times, particularly across northern and eastern parts of the UAE.
Wind, dust and cooler temperatures expected
Winds will start from the southeast before changing to the northwest. They will be moderate to cool at times and may blow up dust in some areas. Temperatures are also expected to drop during this period.
Rough seas forecast
The Arabian Gulf is expected to be rough from Tuesday night to Thursday. In the Oman Sea, the water will be mostly calm to moderate, but it could become rough at times.
When was the last rainfall in the UAE?
On Saturday, December 13, 2025 only just a few months ago, some residents around 9pm were sent a public safety alert from Dubai Police on their phones, warning of unstable weather conditions. Just hours later, on Sunday, December 14, Dubai woke up to rainfall, something that still feels unusual in a city known for year-round sunshine.
The following weekend, there was also another big rainfall on December 18 and 19, when heavy showers, strong winds, and thunderstorms affected the country.
How does cloud seeding work in the UAE?
The NCM keeps constant watch on the skies using radars, satellites, ground stations, and even 26 live camera feeds across the country.
When their meteorologists spot a promising cloud, a specially equipped aircraft is sent up. The pilots fly directly into the cloud and release hygroscopic flares which are long sticks attached to the wings containing a mix of salt crystals, magnesium, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride. These absorb moisture, speeding up the droplet-forming process.
During a typical three hour cloud seeding flight, the aircraft releases and burns up to 48 special flares inside several clouds
How effective is cloud seeding in weather?
The UAE’s cloud seeding programme aims to increase rainfall by 10% to 25%, a big deal in one of the driest regions on Earth. Since the start of 2025, the NCM has already carried out 172 cloud seeding flights, according to August figures, making the most of every rain-producing cloud that passes over the country.
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