The United Arab Emirates is set to witness its coldest winter period between January 10 and January 22, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.
In a statement issued this week, Al Jarwan said the sharp drop in temperatures coincides with a well-known phase in Gulf folklore called “Der Al Sittin”, meaning “the sixty days.” Traditionally associated with intense cold, the period is often described in local proverbs as being as sharp as a knife’s edge.
Early mornings during this phase are expected to be particularly cold, especially in desert regions where temperatures could fall below 5°C, Al Jarwan noted. The period typically records the lowest temperatures of the winter season across the Gulf region.
The cold snap also aligns with the evening culmination of the Thuraya (Pleiades) constellation, a celestial event historically linked to harsh winter conditions in Arab heritage.
Al Jarwan also highlighted that the first full moon of 2026, known as the “Wolf Moon,” coincided with the Moon reaching its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger than usual — a phenomenon commonly referred to as a supermoon. The term “Wolf Moon” originates from folklore in North America and Europe, associated with wolves howling during winter scarcity.
Regarding rainfall, January precipitation in the UAE typically ranges between 12 and 18 millimetres, with an average of six to eight rainy days. However, Al Jarwan cautioned against relying on long-range forecasts, noting that accurate weather predictions are generally reliable only within a five-day window.
He explained that weather forecasting remains challenging due to the atmosphere’s complex and dynamic nature, where small changes can lead to significant variations in outcomes.
