Daily report · most polluted
UAE air quality on 18 October 2026
Abu Dhabi had the most polluted air of 15 UAE cities
Updated · NCM / EAD
At 3:00 pm GST on 18 October 2026, 15 UAE cities were reporting. Abu Dhabi had the most polluted air at US AQI 158 (Unhealthy), followed by Dibba Al-Fujairah (152) and Ras Al Khaimah (144). The median across all cities was 106, up from 100 the day before. 2 cities were at Unhealthy or worse (1 the day before). Ghayathi had the cleanest air at 71.
The biggest deterioration was in Liwa Oasis, from 64 to 106. Ruwais improved most, from 153 to 75.
- Moderate 7
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6
- Unhealthy 2
10 most polluted cities
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | 158Unhealthy | ▲ 19 |
| 2 | Dibba Al-Fujairah | Fujairah | 152Unhealthy | ▲ 13 |
| 3 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 144Sensitive | ▲ 2 |
| 4 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 120Sensitive | ▲ 30 |
| 5 | Liwa Oasis | Abu Dhabi | 106Sensitive | ▲ 42 |
| 6 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 7 | Ajman | Ajman | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 9 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 94Moderate | ▲ 6 |
| 10 | Sweihan | Abu Dhabi | 93Moderate | ▲ 8 |
10 cleanest cities
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghayathi | Abu Dhabi | 71Moderate | ▼ 35 |
| 2 | Ruwais | Abu Dhabi | 75Moderate | ▼ 78 |
| 3 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 84Moderate | ▲ 3 |
| 4 | Kalba | Sharjah | 84Moderate | ▲ 3 |
| 5 | Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi | 84Moderate | ▼ 2 |
| 6 | Sweihan | Abu Dhabi | 93Moderate | ▲ 8 |
| 7 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 94Moderate | ▲ 6 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 9 | Ajman | Ajman | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 10 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
Biggest rises
Biggest improvements
All 15 cities on 18 October 2026
| # | City | Emirate | US AQI | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | 158Unhealthy | ▲ 19 |
| 2 | Dibba Al-Fujairah | Fujairah | 152Unhealthy | ▲ 13 |
| 3 | Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | 144Sensitive | ▲ 2 |
| 4 | Al Ain | Abu Dhabi | 120Sensitive | ▲ 30 |
| 5 | Liwa Oasis | Abu Dhabi | 106Sensitive | ▲ 42 |
| 6 | Sharjah | Sharjah | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 7 | Ajman | Ajman | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 8 | Umm Al Quwain | Umm Al Quwain | 106Sensitive | ▲ 6 |
| 9 | Khor Fakkan | Sharjah | 94Moderate | ▲ 6 |
| 10 | Sweihan | Abu Dhabi | 93Moderate | ▲ 8 |
| 11 | Madinat Zayed | Abu Dhabi | 84Moderate | ▼ 2 |
| 12 | Kalba | Sharjah | 84Moderate | ▲ 3 |
| 13 | Fujairah | Fujairah | 84Moderate | ▲ 3 |
| 14 | Ruwais | Abu Dhabi | 75Moderate | ▼ 78 |
| 15 | Ghayathi | Abu Dhabi | 71Moderate | ▼ 35 |
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.