How to Help People During an Extreme Heatwave in the United Arab Emirates

Quick answer: To help people during an extreme heatwave in the United Arab Emirates, move them away from heat into an air-conditioned or genuinely cooler place, begin cooling them, and check for signs of heatstroke. If somebody is confused, collapses, has a seizure, loses consciousness or develops other serious symptoms, call 998 for an ambulance immediately and continue safe cooling while help is arranged. The UAE’s other emergency numbers are 999 police and 997 Civil Defence/fire. Offer water only to somebody who is fully conscious and able to swallow safely. Never force fluid into an unconscious or severely confused person.

Extreme heat in the UAE can affect outdoor construction workers, delivery riders, cleaners, agricultural staff, drivers, tourists, children, older people and those whose home or accommodation cooling has failed. The risk is not determined only by the air temperature: humidity, radiant heat, physical exertion, medications, clothing and whether someone can cool down at night also matter. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) publishes weather forecasts and alerts. The UAE Government’s weather information page describes the national early warning system and official meteorological services. This is general protective advice, not a claim that a heat alert is active on a particular day.

The priority is the person’s symptoms and exposure. A worker who has become confused or collapsed needs emergency medical attention and active cooling, not just a bottle of water. A person who is alert but overheated may benefit from rest, shade, a cooler room and safe fluids. A household without functioning air conditioning may need another appropriate cool location. Giving useful help often means one specific action: calling 998, accompanying someone into a cooler place, contacting a supervisor or arranging medical assessment.

First 12 actions: help without delaying medical care

Check responsiveness and breathing. Sudden confusion, collapse, seizure, unconsciousness or severe deterioration requires an ambulance.
Call 998 for medical emergencies. Give emirate, city, street, building or worksite, landmark, symptoms, number of people and current exposure.
Move the person out of the heat when safe. Choose air-conditioning, a cooler indoor room or shaded space away from a hot worksite.
Start cooling. Remove unnecessary outer clothing, apply cool water or wet cloths, and improve airflow while following ambulance dispatch instructions.
Do not force drinks. Offer cool safe water only if the person is fully awake and can swallow; never give oral liquids when unconscious or seriously confused.
Do not assume sweating excludes heatstroke. Serious heatstroke can occur while a person is sweating.
Reduce further physical effort. Stop heavy work, exercise, long walking or other exertion until health is assessed and conditions improve.
Check on people living alone. Ask whether their home cooling works, whether they can obtain medicine and whether they have a trusted emergency contact.
Help workers reach a safe rest location. Outdoor employees, security staff and delivery riders may need access to shade and air-conditioned areas.
Check current NCM alerts. A city forecast does not guarantee the conditions inside a hot warehouse, vehicle or apartment.
Do not leave people in parked vehicles. Children, dependent adults and pets can suffer rapidly increasing heat exposure in an enclosed car.
Follow up. A heat-affected person may deteriorate or remain exposed the following day, particularly when cooling or power has failed.

UAE emergency services and trusted health information

998 — ambulance: the UAE Government’s nationwide emergency medical number. Call promptly for suspected heatstroke, collapse or other life-threatening heat illness.
999 — police: urgent policing and public safety assistance.
997 — Civil Defence/fire: fire and related technical emergencies, including fire hazards affecting a building.
UAE Government emergency contacts: official list of 998, 999, 997 and other services.
NCM: national forecasts, meteorological alerts and public information.
Dubai Health Authority: summer heatstroke symptoms, cooling and prevention.
Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE): workplace heat protection and Midday Break requirements.
MoHRE workplace enquiries: 600 590 000 for labour-related reporting and advice, not ambulance dispatch.

The official UAE Government emergency directory confirms 999 police, 997 fire and 998 ambulance. The UK government’s current UAE emergency reference independently lists the same numbers. A dispatcher needs a precise site, symptoms and immediate hazards. If the person is in a large construction project, warehouse or remote road, provide a gate or checkpoint and ask someone to guide authorised medical responders from a safe location. Do not promise response time based on a city average.

Recognise the difference between heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Heat exhaustion: early warning symptoms

A person who has worked or exercised in heat may become dizzy, nauseated, weak, thirsty, unusually fatigued or sweaty. Their body is struggling to manage heat and fluid loss. Stop exertion, help them move to a cooler place, loosen unnecessary clothing and begin safe cooling. Offer safe water if fully alert and able to swallow, and obtain professional advice if symptoms are significant, persistent, recurrent or affected by an existing medical condition.

A person who does not recover promptly, has worsening symptoms or reports chest pain or severe weakness may need urgent assessment. The Dubai Health Authority’s heat health guide describes high-risk groups and the importance of calling an ambulance and cooling when severe symptoms occur. Do not treat all exhaustion as harmless or send the person back to heavy work after a few sips of water.

Heatstroke: a life-threatening emergency

Heatstroke can involve profound confusion, collapse, seizure, altered consciousness and other signs of serious brain and organ dysfunction. It does not require the skin to become dry. Call 998, move the person to a cooler location if safe, remove excessive clothing and start active cooling with cool water, wet towels and appropriate airflow. Follow medical dispatch instructions. Do not delay cooling while trying to find an exact thermometer reading.

When the person cannot drink safely

Never try to pour water into someone’s mouth when they are unconscious, having a seizure, vomiting, severely confused or unable to swallow properly. This can cause choking. Follow emergency dispatch about checking breathing, safe positioning and CPR if the person is not breathing normally. Avoid giving unprescribed medicines or attempting to treat suspected heatstroke with a routine headache tablet.

UAE summer midday break: what the rule actually says

The UAE implements a Midday Break policy to reduce occupational heat exposure. According to the UAE Government’s workplace safety guide, work under direct sunlight and in open places is generally prohibited between 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., from 15 June through 15 September each year. It is an important protection, not a declaration that all outdoor tasks outside that period are safe.

Some technically necessary work is exempt subject to protective conditions, including certain critical repairs, infrastructure maintenance or activities requiring special permits. The relevant legal rules require appropriate rest arrangements, drinking water, shade and safety measures. Workers and employers should check current MoHRE requirements, the nature of the task and safe work procedures. A private employer cannot assume that calling a project urgent automatically waives every safety obligation.

Why the rule does not cover every heat hazard

Heat illness can happen before noon, after 3 p.m., in high-humidity evenings or in indoor warehouses without sufficient ventilation. The midday period is a legal protective measure for particular work conditions, not a physiological safe-temperature threshold. Workers who wear heavy protective equipment or perform strenuous lifting may need more rest, water, job rotation and cooling according to occupational risk assessments.

Helping a delivery rider or outdoor worker

A delivery rider may not have a fixed air-conditioned workplace. Ask whether the worker has access to an appropriate safe rest location and water, and whether their employer or platform provides current assistance. MoHRE has supported rest facilities for delivery workers during summer periods and reported thousands of rest stations in 2025. That historical provision does not prove a particular 2026 rest station is open now. Confirm location and operating conditions before sending someone on a long hot journey.

Workplace reporting: help without putting a worker at more risk

If a worker appears unwell, prioritise health and safety immediately. Contact emergency medical services for danger signs; ask the supervisor or workplace first aider for safe cooling and rest measures; document any safety concern through proper channels. MoHRE’s workplace guidance explains employer obligations to provide a safe environment. If a worker needs help understanding the Midday Break or reporting a potential rule violation, MoHRE can provide official procedures through its website, app and contact centre.

Do not assume that a person who reports unsafe conditions can speak openly in front of an employer or co-workers. Preserve privacy and consent. Do not post a worker’s immigration, employment or medical information publicly. A supervisor should arrange safe duties, rest, shade, water, cooling and trained first aid rather than pressuring a visibly ill employee to complete a shift.

Understand NCM weather warnings and heat exposure

The National Centre of Meteorology publishes local forecasts and weather information. The UAE Government’s July 2026 weather services guide describes its Early Warnings for All service, where green, orange and red show information, preparation and action respectively. These colours are not universal thresholds for diagnosing heatstroke; read the event’s actual message, location and time. An NCM high-temperature forecast does not measure the heat inside a warehouse or vehicle.

In a high-humidity coastal environment, sweating may cool the body less efficiently. Concrete, glass and metal surfaces can radiate heat, while air-conditioning failures may cause an indoor room to become dangerous even after sunset. Encourage people to assess actual conditions and symptoms, not solely the nearest airport’s reported air temperature. A person who is ill needs clinical help regardless of the forecast’s colour.

Older adults and people who live alone

An older resident may not be able to run errands during the hottest hours, may have difficulty adjusting a cooling system or may be following a prescribed fluid restriction. Ask what support they want: help checking the air-conditioning, a delivery of suitable drinking water, medication access or transport to an appropriately cooler location. Do not instruct somebody with kidney or heart disease to ignore a clinician’s fluid plan. Help obtain medical advice if the heat makes ordinary management difficult.

A simple check-in can include: “Is the room cooling properly? Have you been able to eat and drink as advised? Are you unusually dizzy or confused? Do you have your medication? Who should I contact if you don’t answer tomorrow?” Respect consent and privacy. If there is evidence of serious acute illness, use 998. Don’t enter a neighbour’s home without permission or make unsupported claims about their medical condition.

Children, infants, pregnant people and people with disabilities

Children can become overheated during outdoor activities, school transport or time in a parked vehicle. Avoid leaving anyone dependent on care in a parked car even briefly. Encourage appropriate breaks, cooler indoor activities and safe age-appropriate hydration. For infants, follow medical guidance about feeding, breastfeeding and formula; do not improvise extra water for very young babies or change feeding plans without qualified advice.

A pregnant person may need additional rest and medical advice if symptoms arise. A person using a wheelchair or other mobility device may find a proposed cooling centre inaccessible. Ask what help is preferred and whether transportation, toilets, seating and medical support are available. A safe plan should include the person’s equipment, treatment and consent, not just a building with air-conditioning.

Tourists, desert excursions and strenuous activities

Visitors may underestimate how quickly high temperatures and exertion can cause illness, especially during desert excursions, long outdoor walks or daytime sightseeing. A guide or operator should use appropriate weather checks, drinking-water plans, communications and emergency access. Do not encourage someone to continue an outdoor tour when they are confused, faint or severely ill. Call 998 for life-threatening symptoms and identify the precise location or nearest accessible checkpoint.

A tourist at a hotel may be able to reach a cool lobby or medical service more easily than someone on a remote trail. For desert activities, location information is especially important: GPS coordinates if reliable, emirate, road, track, nearby landmark, vehicle details and number of people. Do not send a second unprepared vehicle into the heat to rescue the first without appropriate assistance.

Helping a person whose air-conditioning fails

Ask whether the room remains safe to occupy and whether the person has any heat illness symptoms.
If someone is severely ill, call 998 and begin cooling; do not wait for a repair appointment.
Identify an actually open, accessible cool location such as a suitable relative’s home or verified public facility.
Check the safe transport route and time of day; avoid sending vulnerable people on a long exposed journey.
Help contact the landlord, building manager, maintenance service or electricity provider about the failure.
Ask whether the person relies on electrically powered medical devices and needs clinician-approved backup arrangements.
Confirm access to safe water and suitable food while repairs are being organised.
Check again after nightfall, as a hot flat may stay uncomfortable despite lower outdoor air temperature.

Heat during power outages and why generators create additional danger

When a building loses electricity during extreme heat, people may try unsafe improvised cooling. A fuel-burning generator must never be operated in an enclosed room, attached garage or near openings where exhaust can enter; carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal. A charcoal grill, camping stove or vehicle exhaust is also unsafe as an indoor substitute for electricity. Help the household access a properly ventilated, safe alternative and follow the electricity provider’s instructions.

If a person depends on oxygen equipment, a powered medical device or refrigerated medication, tell the healthcare provider and emergency services about the specific need. Not every mall, hotel or public building can meet medical requirements or accept an unscheduled patient. Prioritise an appropriate clinic or authorised emergency service when health is at risk.

The first 72 hours: plan help beyond one cold drink

First hours: recognise severe symptoms, call 998 when necessary, begin cooling, stop dangerous work or activity and establish a safe cool location.
Day one: check prescription access, safe water, cooling and transportation for those at higher risk.
Day two: help with workplace safety reporting, home repairs or access to air-conditioned respite as appropriate.
Day three: reassess persistent symptoms, medical follow-up and whether the person can safely return to their routine.
Longer periods: arrange reliable check-ins, backup cooling and heat exposure plans, especially for workers and residents who may be isolated.

Common errors that make helping less effective

Waiting for a thermometer: altered consciousness after heat exposure can be life-threatening even without a measured core temperature.
Forcing water: a person who cannot swallow safely may choke; call emergency services instead.
Thinking a midday work ban makes all other hours safe: heat illness can develop before or after the restricted period.
Leaving a dependent person in a parked car: interior temperatures can climb rapidly.
Assuming a fan is enough: it cannot guarantee safety in a dangerously hot room.
Ignoring a person’s medical plan: some people have fluid or treatment restrictions that require clinician advice.
Making an ill worker finish a shift: symptoms require immediate safety attention and possible medical assessment.
Choosing an inaccessible cool location: a place helps only if the person can reach and use it.

Five realistic situations and safer responses

1. A construction worker becomes confused and collapses

Call 998 immediately, move the person out of direct heat if safe, remove excessive clothing and begin cooling with cool water and suitable airflow. Follow dispatcher’s first-aid directions. Do not force oral water or wait for the supervisor to approve an ambulance call.

2. An older resident’s air-conditioning fails

Ask about symptoms, essential medication and whether the flat is genuinely cool enough. Help confirm a safe accessible alternative location or maintenance arrangement. If confusion, collapse or serious illness is present, call 998 rather than relying only on a repair visit.

3. A visitor is faint during an afternoon desert tour

Stop exertion, arrange safe cooling and assess symptoms. If the person has serious deterioration, call 998 and give the location and access details. Do not send another unprepared walker across open desert to find them.

4. A delivery rider asks whether the June–September Midday Break applies

Explain the general MoHRE rule of avoiding direct-sun outdoor work between 12:30 and 3:00 from 15 June through 15 September, subject to specific exceptions and conditions. Help verify the worker’s current workplace arrangements rather than promising every type of delivery is automatically prohibited.

5. A friend says the NCM weather map shows green so the warehouse is safe

Clarify that the warning colour is not a personal health diagnosis or measurement of the warehouse. Assess the actual indoor heat, airflow, exertion and symptoms. Seek help for a person who is unwell regardless of the colour.

Frequently asked questions

What emergency number should I call for heatstroke in the UAE?

998 is the ambulance emergency number throughout the UAE. 999 is police and 997 is fire/Civil Defence. Describe the symptoms and precise location.

Can heatstroke happen even if someone is sweating?

Yes. Sweating does not rule out heatstroke. Sudden confusion, seizures, unconsciousness or collapse after heat exposure need urgent medical care and active cooling.

Should I give water to a confused or unconscious person?

No. Do not give oral drinks if the person cannot swallow safely. Call 998 and follow the ambulance dispatcher’s first-aid instructions.

When is the UAE outdoor midday work ban?

The general policy prohibits covered work under direct sun and in open outdoor places from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. between 15 June and 15 September each year, with specified technical exceptions and requirements. Confirm current MoHRE regulations.

Are evenings always safe for outdoor activity?

No. Humidity, retained heat, exertion and individual health can make evenings risky. Assess symptoms and the actual conditions.

How can somebody overseas help a UAE relative or worker?

Make private safety check-ins, help verify official weather and workplace guidance, coordinate appropriate medical or cooling support and do not offer unverified treatment or legal claims.

More eduKateSG guides to helping people during disasters: Flood in the United Kingdom · Cyclone in Bangladesh · Earthquake in Nepal. Each country uses different emergency numbers, warning systems and local evacuation instructions. Always follow the authorities where the emergency is occurring.

Official UAE sources and related eduKateSG disaster guides

Reviewed 7 November 2026. This is general UAE heat-health and community-assistance guidance, not a current heatwave alert, an individual medical diagnosis or legal determination about one employer. Follow current NCM, MoHRE and healthcare authority instructions, and use 998 immediately for serious heat illness.