UAE residents looking for something to do after sunset can turn their eyes to the sky tonight as the Perseids meteor shower makes an appearance.

For the best chance of seeing the celestial display, darker locations away from the bright lights of the cities could be worth the drive. The UAE’s mountainous areas, including Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet, are among the cooler options for spending an evening outdoors.

The meteor shower arrives as the country experiences another hot summer day, with temperatures expected to reach 45°C in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Quwain.

Where can you watch the shower in the UAE?

The UAE’s mountainous regions can offer more favourable conditions for stargazing because they are farther from urban light pollution.

Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah and Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain are two popular options for those looking to escape the city lights and watch the night sky.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) expects temperatures in mountainous areas to remain comparatively lower, at around 32°C to 38°C.

If you’re planning to watch from a remote location, choose an established and safe viewing area, and check conditions before setting out.

Chances of rain in the east

While the skies may be the main attraction tonight, the weather earlier in the day could be less predictable in parts of eastern UAE.

The NCM forecasts fair to partly cloudy conditions, with the possibility of convective clouds developing over eastern areas during the afternoon.

That could bring rainfall to places such as Fujairah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan.

Sea conditions remain slight

The NCM expects slight sea conditions in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

Anyone planning marine activities should check the latest official forecast before heading out.

So while the UAE remains firmly in summer mode, tonight offers residents a chance to swap city lights for the night sky and look out for the Perseids.

The UAE is set for another spell of scorching heat, with temperatures expected to reach 50°C in some inland areas, while afternoon convective clouds could bring scattered rain to parts of the country through the weekend.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the unstable weather is being driven by a surface low-pressure system combined with an upper-air trough, creating favourable conditions for cloud formation.

Rain is expected mainly over eastern and southern areas on Thursday and Friday, before extending to some inland regions on Saturday. On Sunday, showers could develop over eastern and western parts of the UAE, with the focus shifting back to eastern and southern areas on Monday.

Winds will be light to moderate but could freshen to 40–45 km/h, especially around convective clouds, causing blowing dust and reduced visibility in exposed areas.

Temperatures are forecast to range between 45°C and 50°C inland, while coastal areas can expect highs of 42°C to 47°C. Sea conditions will remain slight in both the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

Residents in areas affected by convective clouds are advised to stay updated with the latest NCM weather alerts, as conditions can change quickly.

Rain continued to sweep across parts of the UAE on Wednesday, with showers reported in Bada Zayed in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region in the afternoon and early evening in Siji, Fujairah, as unstable weather conditions persisted.

The rainfall comes as convective clouds continue to develop across several parts of the country, creating the potential for more showers through the evening.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said unstable weather is expected until 10pm, with convective clouds likely to bring rainfall of varying intensity, strong winds and reduced visibility in some areas.

Residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated with the latest weather alerts and drive carefully, as sudden rain and blowing dust could impact road conditions.

Weather maps show the heaviest cloud cover over large parts of Al Dhafra, with additional cloud formations developing over parts of Al Ain and the Ras Al Khaimah-Fujairah border.

Videos shared on social media showed rain falling in the UAE on Wednesday afternoon, with local weather trackers reporting good rainfall across the area.

The NCM has advised residents in affected areas to stay updated with the latest weather alerts, as convective clouds can develop quickly and may bring sudden showers, gusty winds and blowing dust.

Forecasters continue to monitor the situation and are expected to issue further updates if weather conditions change.