For those used to perpetual sunshine, the odd sandstorm and of course the humidity, the heat can be seen as a bit of a drag.

Written by Charlie Kennedy

And let’s be honest, the UAE summer can be less than forgiving. With temperatures edging up into – and sometimes beyond – 400C it’s nothing short of uncomfortable when having to brace outdoors for longer than necessary. The hard-working construction men, petrol station workers, gardeners and the like who spend their working days outdoors are truly resilient.

But there’s another side – and temperature – to consider. It seems summer in the UAE is all about harsh contrasts and there’s no bigger contrast than the common temperature that persists indoors throughout the UAE.

For me, I’m not used to perpetual sunshine, any amount of sand or any kind of humidity outside of my bathroom. From a land where the weather is a begrudging topic, rain is at least a twice-weekly occurrence and any temperature above 200C is declared a heat wave, sunshine – and heat in particular – is a welcome relief to my pale skin.

Which is why a reigning blast of cold air reminiscent to being back on a grey and cold sea front in England is not welcome – especially when you’re indoors. Air-conditioning causes me to air my grievance daily. And air-con seems to be on the attack everywhere I go; from the second doors slide open into a mall, from the moment I sit down to work and as soon as I get into a taxi. Sure, a light breeze to cool down from the sweltering outdoor heat is welcome, but when you can practically hear the air whistling by your ears, it’s perhaps a little extreme.

It causes no end of arguments too. Finding middle ground in an office of more than 20 people is never an easy task – especially with suit-wearing males who will declare loudly that it’s too hot (might be worth taking the suit jacket off while indoors perhaps, lads?) before sneakily lowering the temperature down to level with the kitchen fridge results in rather odd office attire my end; socks, a pashmina and the consideration of a pair of ear muffs on some days.

Surely between walking from my flat, to the taxi, and into a hotel lobby shouldn’t require a wardrobe change? Must I really carry around a cardigan and scarf when the temperature outside is enough to cook a meal?

There has to be a happy medium. As I’ve grown accustomed to the hotter climate my blood has most definitely thinned and even a summer day back in the UK climate brings me out in goose pimples. What I really need is a thicker skin – or at least to know the location of the air conditioning control in a number of public buildings.