Climate zones in United Arab Emirates, 1991 to 2020
Share of United Arab Emirates's classified land in each Köppen-Geiger zone in 1991 to 2020. Zones under 0.05% are left out. The 90,147 map cells used cover 99% of the country's outline (about 70,760 km²).
By major group: B (arid) 100%.
Almost all of United Arab Emirates is one climate: BWh, hot desert, which covers 100% of its classified land in 1991 to 2020. In plain terms, hot desert means very dry and hot. Under the middle-of-the-road scenario (SSP2-4.5), almost none of United Arab Emirates changes zone by 2071 to 2099 (0%).
How United Arab Emirates's zones have changed and may change
Each row compares a map with 1991 to 2020. "Share in a different zone" is the share of the country's area whose class is different from 1991 to 2020. Future rows are model projections under an emissions scenario, not forecasts.
| Map | Share in a different zone | Different major group | Biggest gain | Biggest loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 to 1930 (past) | 0% | 0% | No change | No change |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP1-2.6 (low emissions) | 0% | 0% | No change | No change |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 (middle of the road) | 0% | 0% | No change | No change |
| 2071 to 2099, SSP5-8.5 (high emissions) | 0% | 0% | No change | No change |
For the past row, the comparison runs the other way: the 1901 to 1930 map against 1991 to 2020.
Zone shares by map
| Zone | 1901 to 1930 | 1991 to 2020 | SSP1-2.6 (2071 to 2099) | SSP2-4.5 (2071 to 2099) | SSP5-8.5 (2071 to 2099) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWh Hot desert | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Percentages are of the country's classified land in each map. A dash means under 0.05%.
Cities in United Arab Emirates and their climate zones
| City | 1991 to 2020 | 2071 to 2099, SSP2-4.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | BWh Hot desert | BWh Hot desert |
| Abu Dhabi | BWh Hot desert | BWh Hot desert |
| Sharjah | BWh Hot desert | BWh Hot desert |
| Al Ain City | BWh Hot desert | BWh Hot desert |
Zones found in United Arab Emirates
Data: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0; country outlines from Natural Earth. In 1901 to 1930 the most common zone was BWh. See data sources and licences.