Dubai June 2014 | Page 6

Dubai 6 is unlikely to have any seismic impact on Dubai.[17] Experts also predict that the possibility of a tsunami in the region is minimal because the Persian Gulf waters are not deep enough to trigger a tsunami. The sandy desert surrounding the city supports wild grasses and occasional date palms. Desert hyacinths grow in the sabkha plains east of the city, while acacia and ghaf trees grow in the flat plains within the proximity of the Western Al Hajar mountains. Several indigenous trees such as the date palm and neem as well as imported trees like the eucalypts grow in Dubai's natural parks. The houbara bustard, striped hyena, caracal, desert fox, falcon and Arabian oryx are common in Dubai's desert. Dubai is on the migration path between Europe, Asia and Africa, and more than 320 migratory bird species pass through the emirate in spring and autumn. The waters of Dubai are home to more than 300 species of fish, including the hammour. The typical marine life off the Dubai coast includes tropical fish, jellyfish, coral, dugong, dolphins, whales and sharks. Various types of turtles can also be found in the area including the Hawksbill turtle and Green Turtle, which are listed as endangered species.[18][19] Dubai Creek runs northeast-southwest through the city. The eastern section of the city forms the locality of Deira and is flanked by the emirate of Sharjah in the east and the town of Al Aweer in the south. The Dubai International Airport is located south of Deira, while the Palm Deira is located north of Deira in the Persian Gulf. Much of Dubai's real-estate boom is concentrated to the west of Dubai Creek, on the Jumeirah coastal belt. Port Rashid, Jebel Ali, Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and theme-based free-zone clusters such as Business Bay are all located in this section. Climate Main article: Climate of Dubai Dubai has a hot desert climate. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, windy, and humid, with an average high around 41 °C (106 °F) and overnight lows around 30 °C (86 °F) in the hottest month, August. Most days are sunny throughout the year. Winters are warm with an average high of 24 °C (75 °F) and overnight lows of 14 °C (57 °F) in January, the coldest month. Precipitation, however, has been increasing in the last few decades, with accumulated rain reaching 94.3 mm (3.71 in) per year. Dubai summers are also known for the high humidity level, which can make it uncomfortable for many. Climate data for Dubai Month Jan Record high °C 31.6 (88.9) (°F) Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year 37.5 (99.5) 41.3 43.5 47.0 46.7 49.0 48.7 45.1 42.0 41.0 (106.3) (110.3) (116.6) (116.1) (120.2) (119.7) (113.2) (107.6) (105.8) 35.5 (95.9) 49 (120.2) 24.0 (75.2) 25.4 (77.7) 28.2 (82.8) 32.9 (91.2) 37.6 (99.7) Average low °C 14.3 (57.7) (°F) 15.4 (59.7) 17.6 (63.7) 20.8 (69.4) 24.6 (76.3) 27.2 (81) 29.9 (85.8) Record low °C (°F) 6.9 (44.4) 9.0 (48.2) 13.4 (56.1) 15.1 (59.2) 18.2 (64.8) 18.8 25.0 (0.74) (0.984) 22.1 (0.87) 7.2 0.4 (0.283) (0.016) Average high °C (°F) Precipitation mm (inches) 6.1 (43) 39.5 40.8 41.3 (103.1) (105.4) (106.3) 38.9 (102) 35.4 (95.7) 30.5 (86.9) 26.2 (79.2) 33.4 (92.1) 30.2 (86.4) 27.5 (81.5) 23.9 (75) 19.9 (67.8) 16.3 (61.3) 22.3 (72.1) 20.4 (68.7) 23.1 (73.6) 16.5 (61.7) 15.0 (59) 11.8 (53.2) 8.2 (46.8) b