The United Arab Emirates recorded on Friday its highest temperature for May since it began documenting them in 2003 at a sweltering 50.4 degrees Celsius, according to the National Center of Meteorology.

"The highest temperature recorded over the country today is 50.4°C in Al Shawamekh (Abu Dhabi) at 14:30 UAE Local time," it said in a post on X.

"This is the highest temperature we've ever recorded (for May) since we started keeping records in 2003," the NCM told AFP.

That topped the highest temperature of 50.2 Celsius recorded in May 2009, said the centre.

The UAE is one of the world's top oil exporters, but has also invested heavily in renewable energy.