The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed on 22 December that astronomical winter has begun, with a detailed advisory issued on 23 December highlighting colder nights, morning fog and intermittent rain across the emirates .
The Siberian high-pressure system now pushing south will drop overnight temperatures to the low teens in coastal cities and near-freezing on Jebel Jais, while light Red-Sea lows could trigger showers along the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain corridor. Dubai Airports has already alerted airlines to prepare for possible low-visibility operations between 04:00 and 08:00 on 24–26 December, and Etihad has activated its fog-response roster at Zayed International Airport.
For road travellers, police in all seven emirates will enforce reduced speed limits on motorways when visibility falls below 100 metres; SMS and smart-sign alerts will advise of speed-cap changes in real time. Logistics firms moving temperature-sensitive goods are reminded that refrigerated-truck fuel additives may gel below 12 °C.
![Winter officially begins in UAE; NCM warns of cold nights, fog and patchy rain that could disrupt travel]()
Event organisers planning outdoor gatherings—particularly desert safaris and year-end concerts—should budget for heating equipment and monitor NCM’s five-day forecast. International visitors unfamiliar with UAE winters should pack layers; hypothermia cases on Jebel Jais hiking trails rise each December.
For those visitors, arranging travel documents is just as important as preparing for the weather. VisaHQ’s quick, fully online service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets travellers secure UAE visas, track applications in real time and receive expert document reviews, freeing them to concentrate on itinerary tweaks prompted by shifting winter conditions rather than on paperwork.
Although winter brings comfortable daytime highs, mobility planners must factor in fog-related flight diversions and extra ground-transport time when building itineraries over the next six weeks.
The Siberian high-pressure system now pushing south will drop overnight temperatures to the low teens in coastal cities and near-freezing on Jebel Jais, while light Red-Sea lows could trigger showers along the Abu Dhabi–Al Ain corridor. Dubai Airports has already alerted airlines to prepare for possible low-visibility operations between 04:00 and 08:00 on 24–26 December, and Etihad has activated its fog-response roster at Zayed International Airport.
For road travellers, police in all seven emirates will enforce reduced speed limits on motorways when visibility falls below 100 metres; SMS and smart-sign alerts will advise of speed-cap changes in real time. Logistics firms moving temperature-sensitive goods are reminded that refrigerated-truck fuel additives may gel below 12 °C.
Event organisers planning outdoor gatherings—particularly desert safaris and year-end concerts—should budget for heating equipment and monitor NCM’s five-day forecast. International visitors unfamiliar with UAE winters should pack layers; hypothermia cases on Jebel Jais hiking trails rise each December.
For those visitors, arranging travel documents is just as important as preparing for the weather. VisaHQ’s quick, fully online service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets travellers secure UAE visas, track applications in real time and receive expert document reviews, freeing them to concentrate on itinerary tweaks prompted by shifting winter conditions rather than on paperwork.
Although winter brings comfortable daytime highs, mobility planners must factor in fog-related flight diversions and extra ground-transport time when building itineraries over the next six weeks.
