Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology warned that temperatures in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province could reach 50°C today as a heatwave continues to affect the region ahead of the Eid Al Adha holiday.

Hussein Al Qahtani, NCM spokesperson, said the hot weather conditions were expected to persist until Friday, with forecast temperatures ranging between 47°C and 50°C in several governorates across the Eastern Province.

The warning comes as millions of Muslims prepare for Eid Al Adha and the Hajj pilgrimage season, during which Saudi authorities have repeatedly urged residents and pilgrims to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and extreme heat.

Al Qahtani called on the public to follow guidance issued by relevant authorities and monitor official weather updates during the holiday period.

Saudi Arabia has intensified heat mitigation measures during this year’s Hajj season, including expanded shaded areas, misting systems and emergency medical preparedness at key pilgrimage sites.

GN

India, the world’s third-largest carbon dioxide emitter, is burning more coal as energy supply disruptions due to the Iran war and a nationwide heatwave have boosted demand for the dirty fuel.

More than 70% of India’s power is generated from coal-fired plants, and energy experts told CNBC that the share is expected to rise this year.

In February, India announced that more than 52% of its total installed power generation capacity came from non-fossil fuel sources, with the majority coming from solar, hydropower and wind. Yet, coal-fired power plants, which account for nearly 43% of total generation capacity, remain the dominant source of energy.

Coal-fired power generation in India in April increased to 164.9 average gigawatts, compared with 160.7 average gigawatts last year, according to data shared by S&P Global Energy. According to the data, coal-fired power generation rose sequentially by 5.6 average gigawatts, or 3.5%, in April.

About 4% of India’s installed power generation capacity is gas-fired and runs on liquified natural gas, of which about 60% is imported through the Strait of Hormuz.

Higher coal burn

The higher liquid natural gas prices have also made gas-based power generation economically unviable, said Girish Madan, director of corporate ratings at Fitch Ratings in Singapore. “So, coal-based power needs to share a higher burden in these peak summer months,” he added.

Electricity demand in India is rising as temperatures surge amid heatwaves. On April 27, data compiled by New Delhi-based air quality and temperature monitoring platform AQI showed that all 50 of the world’s hottest cities were in India.

“Heatwave conditions, with readings above 40-45 degrees C (Celsius), across several places in India have lifted power demand,” Andre Lambine, lead APAC short-term power and renewables research at S&P Global Energy, told CNBC in an email.

He added that while gas-fired generation rebounded in the last weeks of April, it remains “1.5 average gigawatts below 2025 levels, underscoring the continued displacement of gas by coal in the power mix.”

If the El Niño climate effect develops, there could be a “potential growth of 10% year over year for coal-fired power generation in India,” he said.

India is expected to experience relatively higher temperatures this month, which could result in “heat wave conditions across parts of Northwest, Central and West India, along with the East Coast,” the government said in a release on May 2.

While demand for coal is primarily driven by the power sector, other industries are also leaning on the fossil fuel, said Firat Ergene, lead Insights analyst for coal, petcoke, and cement at Kpler.

Additional demand is coming from industries such as cement producers, he told CNBC.

Supplies of petroleum coke, which is burned as fuel, have been disrupted by the Middle East conflict, pushing prices higher. This has prompted cement companies to substitute petcoke with coal, Ergene explained.

Last month, India vowed to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 47% by 2035, in line with its goal to become a net-zero country by 2070. India is the world’s third-highest emitter of carbon dioxide, after China and the U.S.

While India’s carbon dioxide emissions are still rising, the growth rate last year was the slowest in more than two decades, according to an analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a policy think tank.

CNBC

Fair conditions are expected across the UAE on Saturday, with partly cloudy skies at times and light to moderate winds, according to the national weather forecast. Winds may freshen intermittently, while seas are forecast to remain slight to moderate in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea.

Temperatures are set to vary across the country, reaching highs of between 34°C and 38°C in coastal areas, while internal regions could see temperatures Winds are expected to blow from the north-westerly to north-easterly direction at speeds of 10 to 20 km/h, occasionally strengthening to 35 km/h.climb to between 39°C and 43°C. In the mountains, cooler conditions will prevail, with highs ranging from 25°C to 31°C.

Similar weather patterns are forecast to persist over the coming days. Sunday is expected to remain fair, with light to moderate winds continuing across the country and seas remaining relatively calm.

On Monday, a slight drop in temperatures is anticipated, particularly in western areas, while conditions remain generally stable. By Tuesday, humidity levels are expected to rise overnight and into Wednesday morning, especially along coastal regions, bringing a chance of mist formation.

Fair weather is expected to continue into midweek, with light to moderate winds and generally calm sea conditions, offering stable and predictable weather across the UAE.

GN