Dubai: As October draws to a close, summer still seems determined to overstay its welcome. Autumn has arrived on the calendar, but summer has not quite packed its bags.

The calendar may say autumn, yet stepping outside can still feel uncomfortably hot. Warm afternoons, sticky evenings and persistent humidity have left residents wondering why the long-awaited cooler weather is taking so long to arrive.

The explanation lies partly in the UAE's desert climate, the lingering warmth of the Arabian Gulf and the seasonal transition from summer to winter, which rarely happens overnight.

Even as daytime temperatures gradually decline, humidity can make the air feel considerably warmer than the thermometer suggests, particularly in coastal cities such as Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

The Arabian Gulf plays a major role in prolonging the discomfort. After months of intense sunshine, its waters retain heat well into autumn, supplying moisture to the atmosphere.…