Sharjah: Extreme heat in the UAE has led residents to minimise outdoor activities, even during holidays, with people venturing out only for essential matters. The intensity of the heat has reportedly resulted in fevers, common colds, and headaches among children.

Dr Bhaskaran Karapath, a physician in Ajman, noted that many individuals experience physical discomfort due to excessive sweating on the head. Prolonged stays in air-conditioned rooms are also causing various ailments. The number of people taking walks on the beaches for exercise in the morning and evening has significantly declined.

Yoga instructors at Sharjah’s Buhaira Park have observed that families who previously practised yoga at the park have now moved their sessions indoors due to the heat.

Aziz, an employee at a tea shop opposite the Sharjah Indian Association, mentioned that the number of customers frequenting the shop for hot tea and fried snacks has diminished.

Drivers are finding it challenging to work long hours in the heat, and workers delivering cooking gas cylinders are experiencing increased fatigue. The mandatory midday break implemented by the government for those working outdoors has been a significant relief for these workers.

Tourism not affected

Despite the soaring temperatures, tour operators have reported that the influx of tourists remains unaffected. It is said that the heat has not deterred visitors from countries such as the UK and Europe.

Conversely, families who have travelled to Kerala for summer vacations are enjoying the pleasant monsoon showers in the state. They are relieved that the heat in the UAE will have subsided to some extent by the time of their return.

Meanwhile, a free health check-up for 3,000 outdoor workers was conducted in Sharjah in response to the rising temperatures. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Immunisation and the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs, aimed to address health concerns related to the extreme heat.