Not Dubai Or Cairo, This Is The Hottest City In The World

Welcome to the hottest city in the world, where temperatures regularly exceed the unbearable 50 degrees Celsius. Described by the locals as ‘uninhabitable’, Kuwait City has seen birds falling dead from the sky and swinging in the extreme heat and even air conditioners are placed on the street to cool off.

On summer days, temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius are considered normal. The highest temperature ever recorded was 54 degrees Celsius, the third highest in the world. Mitribah’s weather station stays on top of intense heat all year round and observes a significant rise in temperature each year in May as Kuwait enters its high-heat season. The intense heat of Kuwait City offers the locals a constant challenge, so much so that many prefer to stay in their lush homes rather than dare.

But for those who defy nature, including thousands who are looking for work, the air-conditioned streets are a gift from heaven. In the hottest parts of the world, air conditioning is considered essential, as homes, offices and shopping centres are all well-equipped to handle the heat. One area is so hot that the local community has created a covered shopping street as a cool retreat from the humid conditions. Kuwait City, home to just over 3 million people enduring the ruthless sun, has a slightly smaller population than Wales, known for its much cooler climate.

Known for its huge oil reserves, the city not only struggles with extreme heat but also has to deal with low rainfall every year. This situation has led to an increasing number of dust storms, which are becoming more intense every year, enveloping the city in dense clouds of dust and aggravating the sulphur-containing heat. Residents have reported that they see birds falling dead from the sky and even seahorses cooking by the sea, underlining the serious consequences of the city’s harsh climatic conditions.

Pigeons often gather in large groups to stay calm together. Earlier this year, the Kuwaiti government officially allowed funerals to be held at night in response to the heat of the day. The Kuwaiti architects discovered that it ‘almost seems like the exterior doesn’t exist’ because the oppressive heat permeates both the interior and the external environment. Average temperatures are around 45 degrees Celsius, with May and September leading to an extended, sultry summer season.