The Middle East and North Africa are already the hottest and driest regions on Earth, and climate change could make the situation worse. The area could experience scorching heat waves and make it uninhabitable in the coming decades.
Scientists estimate that the entire Middle East and North Africa could reach temperatures of more than 60 degrees Celsius. Conditions can be dire, including chronic water shortages, inability to grow food due to extreme weather, severe drought, and spikes in heat-related deaths and health problems.
One study published in the journal Nature notes that by 2100 some 600 million people, or 50% of the region's population, may be exposed to 'super-extreme' weather events if current greenhouse gas projections continue.
"For weeks or even months, the scorching heat will be potentially life-threatening," the report said.
George Zittis, lead author of the study, said the higher humidity from increased evaporation of the surrounding ocean would increase the hazard.
"Heat stress during the summer will reach or exceed the human survival threshold, at least in some parts of the region and for the hottest months," Zittis said as quoted by Al Jazeera, Thursday (11/11/2021).
Major urban centers around the Gulf, Arabian Sea and Red Sea - such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dhahran and Bandar Abbas, are said to experience severe temperatures more frequently.
In line with the study, the World Bank said cities would feel an increase in the effects of a hotter island and most of the capitals in the Middle East could experience four months of extremely hot days each year.
