From waking up early to carrying water bottles: What UAE residents can do to cope with summer heat

From waking up early to carrying water bottles: What UAE residents can do to cope with summer heat

UAE expat Firas Hamdan used to sleep in until past 7am on a work day so he can leave the house at around 8.30am. Now, with the summer heat reaching 49 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country, Hamdan wakes up as early as 6am. Starting the day as early as possible is one of the best ways to beat the heat, said Hamdan, who works as a sales executive at a tech firm. He leaves for his office at 7am and arrives around half an hour later — and since it would still be too early to start his shift, he spends the next few hours in the gym. “I have enrolled in a gym near my office. My fitness sessions usually start at 7.30am. During winters and when the temperatures are low, I prefer my evening fitness,” said Hamdan. Sharjah resident Mohammed Fami also switches his routine for the summer season. “Post-workout is my work. Normally, during winter, I am out with family and friends in the evenings. But evenings during summer are spent at home, making us sleep before 11pm,” said the expat, whose office is just near Sahara Mall. For Fami, summer evenings are reserved