Retailers beam, the Sun does not

A tad wet … the rare sight of an umbrella on the gloomy streets of Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // The long spell of wintery conditions has retailers beaming as stocks of woolly jumpers, thermal underwear and electric heaters sell out.

And they can keep grinning – there’s more to come.

“People are asking for quilted jackets, cardigans – we have run out of thermals,” said Desiree Hagener, store manager at Brands for Less in Al Barsha.

“We did have these in stock but we are getting so much demand that they are sold out. It is not just people travelling to cooler climates but residents.”

The showers experienced on Sunday across the country also led to a rush on umbrellas.

“When I stepped out to work, the first thing I did was run to a nearby shop to buy an umbrella,” said Abu Dhabi engineer Omer Feroz, 33, from Pakistan.

“It was raining cats and dogs and I have to visit different open sites for work. Every time I had to step out of the car, I needed to put up an umbrella first.

“Even though it could be a little inconvenient, I prefer this weather any day to getting roasted in the summer.”

Villa owners who usually struggle to keep their homes cool are now trying to heat them up.

At Lulu Hypermarket in Abu Dhabi’s Khalidiyah Mall, indoor heaters are flying off the shelves.

“We’ve sold a lot more room heaters than usual this year,” said employee Ashif Ahmed.

“We do sell heaters in the winter but this year we’ve been selling them every day.”

The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology said the weather was expected to be cloudy until Wednesday, with rain likely over scattered areas.

And lower temperatures will continue on Monday.

Abu Dhabi is forecast to have lows of 19°C on Monday, while Dubai will have a minimum of 18°C.

Meanwhile, back in the shops, Diana D’Souza said thermal underwear was also proving to be a big seller at Marks and Spencer in Abu Dhabi.

“Our winter sales are very much the usual but the trend we have noticed of late is people buying a lot of thermals,” said Ms D’Souza, the department store’s manager.

Splash Fashions in Abu Dhabi said beanie hats that cover the ears and winter jackets were doing a roaring trade.

“Winter jackets and caps to keep you warm are our best selling items right now,” said Mohammed Larib. “This time we are keeping cold weather items on the shelves for longer.”

The weather bureau also warned motorists to take care, as fog is likely to form in interior areas. Relative humidity is expected to increase, going up to 89 per cent on Monday.

On Sunday evening, users on social media reported traffic gridlocks and accidents in Dubai amid rainy conditions. Abu Dhabi Police warned motorists to check brakes and windscreen wipers, while Dubai Police advised motorists to pull over in case of bad visibility.