But residents and drivers traveling along Al Dhaid Road in Sharjah experienced a rare weather event when hail hit the ground after hail fell in the area, and a rare sight in the emirate. Videos and photos posted on social media showed hailstones hitting roads and vehicles so shocking to commuters used to the desert and hot weather typical of the UAE.
The hailstorm happened as unstable weather conditions hit some parts of the United Arab Emirates. While rainfall and thunderstorms occasionally develop during transitional weather periods, hail, especially in populated areas, is usually not so common. The sudden weather change was in the news and residents posted videos of the frozen pellets covering sections of the road.
Drivers driving along Al Dhaid Road were not visible through the rain that accompanied the hail and visibility was also reduced for those driving along Al Dhaid Road due to the hail, they were driving on Al Dhaid Road.
الإمارات : الان هطول أمطار غزيرة على طريق الذيد بالشارقة #أخبار_الإمارات #مركز_العاصفة
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) August 3, 2026
3_8_2026 pic.twitter.com/cXCZ9ghgJR
In bad weather, drivers have been warned by authorities that they should be extra careful during bad weather, keep driving with extreme caution, stay safe, stay at a safe distance away from people who were driving slow and slow down, avoid sudden braking on slippery roads in dangerous places when driving at high speed and slow down on slippery surfaces of roads and drivers must keep driving gradually and be cautious with less speed and avoid sudden braking on slippery road surfaces.
No injuries or major property damage were reported at the time of the incident, but weather can cause road network disruptions when heavy rain and hail affect roads. Drivers should be informed of weather advisories before they get on the road, the police said.
الإمارات : الان هطول أمطار الخير على الذيد بالشارقة #أخبار_الإمارات #مركز_العاصفة
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) August 3, 2026
3_8_2026 pic.twitter.com/3cnoZRINUh
A number of intense weather events have been experienced in the UAE in the past few years, such as heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hailstorms. The reason is the atmospheric instability as moist air interacts with upper-level weather systems. In some cases, cloud seeding can take place under favorable weather conditions, but hail formation is natural and requires strong thunderstorm updrafts.
The Al Dhaid Road, which connects Sharjah with the central and eastern part of the emirate by road and is a popular route, is also a busy route. During severe weather events, even brief periods of hail will make driving hazardous.
الإمارات : الان شاهد قوة العاصفة على طريق الذيد بالشارقة #أخبار_الإمارات #مركز_العاصفة
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) August 3, 2026
3_8_2026 pic.twitter.com/dZS8dRsdke
Nearby residents reported cooler temperatures from the hot summer in the UAE. Many welcomed the brief change of weather, while others stopped to take videos of the rare hailstones falling in the desert.
Hail is produced when powerful thunderstorm clouds carry water droplets high into extremely cold layers of the atmosphere where they freeze into ice. As frozen particles move up and down in the storm cloud, they grow larger and eventually sink to the ground once they become too heavy to remain suspended.
Emergency services and municipal authorities will be on the scene to deal with weather-related issues if conditions worsen. Residents are warned not to travel when there is very heavy rainfall, don’t walk on flooded roads (if possible), and follow the instructions given by local authorities.
الإمارات : الان تساقط البرد على طريق الذيد بالشارقة #أخبار_الإمارات #مركز_العاصفة
— مركز العاصفة (@Storm_centre) August 3, 2026
3_8_2026 pic.twitter.com/hIWWxewedf
The surprising hail on Al Dhaid Road is another reminder that weather patterns across the UAE can occasionally lead to dramatic weather in other UAE regions, even with the desert-like climate in the UAE. Localized showers and thunderstorms may occasionally occur, of course, and warnings of localized rain and thunderstorms are also being forecasted to be possible in some areas, and we must be watchful and monitor weather updates throughout the day with the weather in the UAE and are monitoring the weather updates on the official weather news constantly.
