Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The planet just wrapped up its third-hottest July ever recorded, with extreme heatwaves making life feel like an oven for many around the globe — including here in the UAE. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), July’s global average temperature hit 16.68°C, which is 0.45°C hotter than the average from 1991 to 2020. It’s the third-hottest July since global records began — and a clear sign that climate change is still heating up the planet, scientists warn. "Two years after the hottest July on record, the recent streak of global temperature records is over – for now," said C3S Director Carlo Buontempo. “But this doesn't mean climate change has stopped. We saw the effects in extreme heat and catastrophic floods in July.” In Türkiye, a new national record was set with a scorching 50.5°C. Meanwhile in the UAE, residents endured similar heat. On July 14, the mercury soared to 50.2°C in Al Dhaid, Sharjah, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). But it wasn’t the hottest day of the summer — that came even earlier. On May 24, before peak summer had even started, temperatures in Sweihan, Al Ain spiked to 51.6°C — the highest recorded in the UAE in 2025 so far. July also marks the Jamrat Al Qaid season, the driest and hottest part of the UAE summer. With scorching sun and dry desert winds, many residents found themselves avoiding the outdoors entirely. And it’s not just the UAE — extreme heat is becoming a global issue. From Europe to Asia, record highs and abnormal weather events are being linked to man-made climate change. ICA/Expat Media ALSO READ: UAE breaks 9-year heat record in August 2025
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