UAE weather: temperatures to fall after hitting more than 46°C on Thursday

The country has been experiencing a heatwave, with figures well above the monthly average

A woman shields herself from the sun in Abu Dhabi. Ryan Carter / The National

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) says the UAE is set for cooler weather at the weekend after a few days of scorching heat.

Temperatures hit more than 46°C in parts of the country on Thursday, but temperatures will drop on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday will still be hot, reaching 41°C in Abu Dhabi city and 39°C in Dubai.

But it will be cooler in the south than it has been in recent days, with temperatures in the lows 40s on Thursday, after reaching 46.3°C in Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafrah region, which borders Saudi Arabia.

Temperatures will fall further over the weekend, reaching highs of around 37°C in Abu Dhabi city and Dubai on Saturday and Sunday.

The NCM said gusts of wind could kick up dust storms in parts of the country.

Conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman will be calm.

The slightly cooler weather is set to continue into next week.

Temperatures will be pleasant on Monday in Abu Dhabi city and Dubai, hovering around 33°C, but they will rise over the course of the week to reach 40°C on Thursday.