Daily report · most polluted
UAE air quality on 17 October 2026
Ruwais had the most polluted air of 15 UAE cities
Updated · NCM / EAD
At 3:00 pm GST on 17 October 2026, 15 UAE cities were reporting. Ruwais had the most polluted air at US AQI 153 (Unhealthy), followed by Ras Al Khaimah (142) and Abu Dhabi (139). The median across all cities was 100, down from 106 the day before. 1 city was at Unhealthy or worse (0 the day before). Liwa Oasis had the cleanest air at 64.
The biggest deterioration was in Ruwais, from 92 to 153. Liwa Oasis improved most, from 127 to 64.
- Moderate 10
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 4
- Unhealthy 1
10 most polluted cities
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruwais | Abu Dhabi | 153Unhealthy | ▲ 61 |
| 2 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 142Sensitive | ▲ 29 |
| 3 | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | 139Sensitive | ▲ 35 |
| 4 | Dibba Al-Fujairah | Fujairah | 139Sensitive | ▲ 18 |
| 5 | Ghayathi | Abu Dhabi | 106Sensitive | ▲ 27 |
| 6 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 7 | Ajman | Ajman | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 9 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 90Moderate | ▼ 4 |
| 10 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 88Moderate | ▼ 20 |
10 cleanest cities
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liwa Oasis | Abu Dhabi | 64Moderate | ▼ 63 |
| 2 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 81Moderate | ▼ 25 |
| 3 | Kalba | Sharjah | 81Moderate | ▼ 25 |
| 4 | Sweihan | Abu Dhabi | 85Moderate | ▼ 8 |
| 5 | Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi | 86Moderate | ▲ 13 |
| 6 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 88Moderate | ▼ 20 |
| 7 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 90Moderate | ▼ 4 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 9 | Ajman | Ajman | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 10 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
Biggest rises
All 15 cities on 17 October 2026
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruwais | Abu Dhabi | 153Unhealthy | ▲ 61 |
| 2 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 142Sensitive | ▲ 29 |
| 3 | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | 139Sensitive | ▲ 35 |
| 4 | Dibba Al-Fujairah | Fujairah | 139Sensitive | ▲ 18 |
| 5 | Ghayathi | Abu Dhabi | 106Sensitive | ▲ 27 |
| 6 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 7 | Ajman | Ajman | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 100Moderate | ▼ 32 |
| 9 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 90Moderate | ▼ 4 |
| 10 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 88Moderate | ▼ 20 |
| 11 | Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi | 86Moderate | ▲ 13 |
| 12 | Sweihan | Abu Dhabi | 85Moderate | ▼ 8 |
| 13 | Kalba | Sharjah | 81Moderate | ▼ 25 |
| 14 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 81Moderate | ▼ 25 |
| 15 | Liwa Oasis | Abu Dhabi | 64Moderate | ▼ 63 |
Snapshot taken at 3:00 pm GST from National Center of Meteorology (NCM) and Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD). Values are the latest hourly readings at that time, not daily averages. Cities with no reading are left out.