In the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, Abu Dhabi’s rapid urban expansion is reshaping not just its skyline but also its climate. A recent study led by B. Dahy from the Civil and Urban Engineering department at New York University Abu Dhabi has uncovered nuanced trends in the city’s Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects, with significant implications for energy consumption and urban planning.
The research, published in the International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences (translated to English as “The International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences”), analyzed Land Surface Temperature (LST) data from Landsat imagery between April 2013 and December 2024. The findings reveal a complex interplay between land-use changes and seasonal temperature trends.
“While we expected to see a uniform increase in temperatures due to urbanization, the data told a more intricate story,” Dahy explained. The study identified four key land-use categories: consistent urban areas, land converted to urban use, inundation zones, and reclamation areas. Each exhibited distinct temperature trends, challenging previous assumptions about UHI dynamics.
During peak summer, urban areas showed a cooling trend of -2.46°C per year, likely due to increased shade and building insulation. However, in winter, these same areas experienced a significant warming trend of +2.64°C per year, reinforcing UHI effects. This seasonal disparity underscores the need for adaptive urban planning strategies that consider year-round climate impacts.
Inundation zones, areas where water bodies are prevalent, demonstrated the “oasis effect,” mitigating peak summer heat with a cooling trend of -2.37°C per year. This highlights the critical role of water bodies in urban heat regulation. Conversely, reclamation areas, where land is reclaimed from water bodies or other natural landscapes, showed sustained warming in both summer (+2.93°C per year) and winter (+4.20°C per year). This trend indicates the loss of natural heat-buffering mechanisms, a concerning development for urban sustainability.
The study’s integration of land cover and land-use change analysis with multi-seasonal LST trends reveals the aggressive transformation of Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape driven by construction activities. Unlike previous studies, which primarily documented UHI presence, this research underscores how changes in land-use composition, particularly the loss of water bodies and green spaces due to reclamation, exacerbate warming trends despite urban cooling interventions.
For the energy sector, these findings are particularly relevant. As urban areas warm in winter, the demand for heating energy may increase, while the summer cooling trend could reduce air conditioning needs. However, the overall warming trends in reclamation areas suggest a potential increase in energy consumption for cooling in these regions. This dynamic necessitates a more nuanced approach to energy planning and infrastructure development.
The research also challenges earlier assumptions of a uniform UHI increase, showing that land-use planning plays a decisive role in seasonal heat retention and dissipation. “Our findings suggest that the aggressive construction-driven transformation of the urban landscape is counteracting the gains made by urban cooling interventions,” Dahy noted. “This necessitates further research on climate adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of land reclamation.”
As Abu Dhabi continues to expand, the insights from this study will be crucial for urban planners, policymakers, and energy providers. The city’s future development must balance the need for urban growth with the imperative to mitigate UHI effects and adapt to changing climate conditions. By integrating these findings into urban planning and energy strategies, Abu Dhabi can pave the way for more sustainable and resilient urban environments.