Farms stays to desert camps: How UAE residents spend weekends as temperatures near 0ºC

The UAE is experiencing its coldest evenings this winter, and this has prompted residents to step outdoors to enjoy the weather. In the last few days, temperatures have dropped in many parts of the country, and a few places recorded near-zero readings, like in high-altitude areas. Residents are sharing photos on social media of weather readings in their areas, and a few have also posted photos with captions — ‘its time to take out winter jackets'.

For many Emirati families, winter evenings during the weekend are spent outside the city. Abdulrahman Al Shizawi said he plans to spend the coming nights at his family farmhouse in Sweihan in Abu Dhabi. “This weather is perfect for us. We sit outside, light a fire, and spend time together as a family. And the best part is that the temperatures are dropping during the weekends. We wait all year for these few weeks,” he said.

Khaleej Times had earlier reported that the cold spell is expected to last for a few more days, making this one of the best windows of the season to enjoy outdoor plans. From farm stays in the mountains to desert camping and hiking trips, residents said that they are changing their routines to make the most of the pleasant winter nights.

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According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), cooler evenings are expected to persist over the next few days, with fluctuating winds continuing to come and go, enhancing the cold feeling, especially after sunset. While daytime temperatures remain comfortable, the drop at night has encouraged people to plan late-evening gatherings, overnight stays, and weekend trips. 

Another Emirati resident, Ali Al Kindi, said that he will be heading to his farm house in Hatta to enjoy the cooler nights. “Hatta feels much colder than the city in the evenings. We stay outdoors late, grill meat and enjoy the quiet,” said Ali.  

“We travel to Hatta every weekend, but this weekend we are planning to stay at our farm house because of the weather,” he said, adding that winter is the best time to enjoy the mountains.

Expats are also adjusting their weekend plans around the weather. George Kalathil, an event specialist working in Al Quoz, said that he and his friends are planning an overnight desert camping trip.

“After leaving office on Wednesday evening, I realised how cold it was getting. At the same time, I started receiving messages on our desert drive WhatsApp group, with everyone talking about the drop in temperature,” said George.

“We have already planned to head to the desert on Friday evening, camp there and return on Saturday evening, and this weather just made it perfect for an overnight camping trip,” said George.

For adrenaline junkies and hikers, the chilly evenings have opened up opportunities for adventure. Tom Reyes, a multimedia professional at a real estate firm, said that he will be hiking and camping near Jabel Yibir with his friends. “The weather is perfect for hiking. It’s cool, not humid, and the nights are great for camping.”

“There is a special spot in the hills where the mornings feel beyond wonderland. The entire mountain range gets blanketed by fog for a few hours until the sun rises,” said Tom.