Snow in Dubai? Sheikh Hamdan’s White-Covered Skyline Photo Goes Viral Amid Cold Snap

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, sparked widespread attention on social media after sharing a striking image of Dubai’s skyline blanketed in white.

The image, posted to Sheikh Hamdan’s Instagram stories, depicts iconic landmarks including the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai appearing to be covered in snow. Captioned “how the weather will feel tomorrow,” the post playfully teased followers and quickly went viral, leaving many wondering if snowfall had truly reached the desert city.

The post comes as a strong cold snap continues to sweep across the UAE, with residents experiencing some of the chilliest conditions of the winter season. Over the past few days, cold winds and dropping temperatures have prompted many to reach for jackets, scarves and winter wear.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the UAE recorded its lowest temperature of the season at just 0.2°C, a sharp drop that had been forecast for the latter part of January. Dubai, while not experiencing freezing conditions, has seen a noticeable shift in weather, marked by biting winds and cooler daytime and nighttime temperatures.

The NCM has warned that temperatures are expected to drop further today and tomorrow across the country. The cold spell is being driven by an extension of a surface low-pressure system from the east interacting with a high-pressure system from the west, along with a weak upper-air low-pressure system.

Weather conditions are expected to remain fair to partly cloudy, with low clouds forming over coastal and northern areas. Moderate to fresh northwesterly winds are forecast, occasionally strengthening to gusts of up to 50 km/h, particularly over the sea and coastal regions. These winds may cause blowing dust and sand, reducing visibility in some areas.

Temperatures in internal regions are forecast to fall to between 5°C and 11°C, while mountain areas could see even colder conditions, ranging from 3°C to 8°C. Humidity is expected to increase overnight and into early morning hours, raising the likelihood of mist formation in some inland locations.

While the snow-covered skyline shared by the Crown Prince is understood to be a creative visual rather than an indication of real snowfall, it has resonated strongly with residents experiencing the unusually cold weather. The image has been widely shared, with many echoing the sentiment that, for now, Dubai certainly feels colder than ever.