The United Arab Emirates has broken its May temperature record for the second consecutive day, reaching a scorching 51.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to the National Center of Meteorology.

"The highest temperature recorded across the country today was 51.6°C in Sweihan (Al Ain) at 13:45 UAE local time (0945 GMT)," the agency said in a post on X. This marked a 1.2°C increase over Friday’s peak temperature in the Abu Dhabi region.

Both readings surpassed the previous May record of 50.2°C, set in 2009, the meteorology office confirmed.

Located in one of the world’s hottest regions, the UAE—a leading global oil exporter—is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Scientists have identified recurring heatwaves as a key indicator of global warming, warning that such extreme events are becoming increasingly frequent, prolonged, and intense.

Over the past 30 years, the number of extremely hot days has nearly doubled worldwide.

A 2022 Greenpeace study underscored the Middle East’s heightened climate risk, citing increased threats of water and food shortages and extreme heatwaves. The report, which covered six countries including the UAE, revealed that the region is warming at nearly twice the global average, placing its natural resources under severe pressure.