ANNUAL SUMMARY REPORT

ABU DHABI
21
01
INTRODUCTION
The objective of EAD’s air quality priority is to ensure that ambient air
quality in Abu Dhabi protects human health and the environment. EAD
will focus on improving the comprehensiveness of ambient air quality
monitoring across the emirate, advancing capabilities for analysing,
modelling and reporting air quality information, and ensuring that
emission standards, regulations and enforcement regimes are in place
for the key sectors and pollutants that pose the greatest threats to
public health, wildlife, and quality of life in Abu Dhabi.

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) started monitoring air

quality in 2007. Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) methods
and procedures are implemented with full documentation and are
validated through an international certified calibration reference
laboratory. Forms and log sheets document every activity in the
air monitoring stations and document all maintenance, calibration,
operation and other activities such as all visits to the stations.

This annual report provides an overview and analysis of air quality

monitoring data in Abu Dhabi for the year 2021, and a short comparison
of monitoring results with earlier years. The analysis covers the three
regions in Abu Dhabi Al Ain Region (Eastern Region), Al Dhafra
Region (Western Region) and Central Region (Greater Abu Dhabi and
its surrounding).

The report summarizes the data available at the twenty fixed stations
in Abu Dhabi Emirate, in addition two mobile stations. The network
monitors up to 17 parameters.
AIR POLLUTION SOURCES
AND HEALTH EFFECTS

POLLUTANT
SULFUR CARBON
DIOXIDE SO2 MONOXIDE CO

.. Traffic pollution .. Traffic Pollution

.. Fuel Combustion

Electric Utilities
Fuel Combustion

. Industrial Processes

Oil and gas activities

PARTICULATE
MATTER PM

..
NITROGEN
DIOXIDE NO2 Arid climate

.. Traffic Pollution .. Regional dust clouds

Fuel Combustion

.. Fuel Combustion

Electric Utilities .. Industrial processes

Traffic Pollution

02
Industrial Boilers Construction Activities

OZONE HYDROGEN
O3 SULFIDE H2S

. Secondary pollutant typically .. Sewage Network

formed by photochemical

reaction of volatile organic

compounds (VOCs) and

. Oil and Gas industrial activities

Waste-water treatment plants

NOx in the presence of

sunlight.

Respiratory diseases Cardiovascular diseases Odor nuisance

03
04
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
LIMITS (AQL)
The air pollution levels have been compared to the UAE Air Quality Limits defined in the Cabinet
of Ministers Decree No. 12 for 2006 concerning Protection of Air from Pollution. A summary of
these Ambient Air Quality Limit (AQL) concentration levels is presented bellow.

SO2-µg/m3
24 hour
Pb-µg/m3 SO2-µg/m3 TSP-µg/m3 NO2 -µg/m3 TSP-µg/m3
Annual Annual Annual 24 hour 24 hour
PM10-µg/m3
24 hour

1 10 30 0
50 60 90 0
100 120 0
150 0
200 230 0
250 0
300 0
350 0
400

CO-mg/m3 CO-mg/m3 O3 -µg/m3 O3 -µg/m3 SO2-µg/m3 NO2 -µg/m3

8 hour 1 hour 8 hour 1hour 1hour 1hour

*TSP = Total Suspended Particles

AIR QUALITY INDEX

This report establishes the Air Quality Index (AQI) to US EPA AQI Classifications
evaluate air pollution. EAD simplifies the Ambient Air
Quality State by calculating the AQI Range based on Air AQI RANGE CLASSIFICATIONS CONDITIONS
Quality National Standards for the major five parameters; 0 to 50 Good Considered satisfactory
Particulate matter, Ground level ozone, Sulfur dioxide,
Nitrogen dioxide and Carbon monoxide. 51 to 100 Moderate Air quality is acceptable
AQI values that are below 100 are compliant with the
air quality limits and are therefore considered to be 101 to 150 Unhealthy for Members of sensitive groups
acceptable. Sensitive Groups may experience health effects

Everyone may begin to

151to 200 Unhealthy experience health effects
Health alert, meaning
201to 300 Very Unhealthy everyone may experience
more serious health effects.
301 to 500 Health warnings of
Hazardous
emergency conditions.
05STATION NAME

CENTRAL ABU DHABI AREA

AIR QUALITY
MONITORING
STATIONS
STATION REPRESENTATIVITY
(AREA TYPE)
SO2 NO2
MAIN PARAMETERS

CO O3 PM10 PM2.5 H2S

06 AIR QUALITY
STATUS

HAMDAN STREET URBAN TRAFFIC The number shown in the stations below indicates
the percentage of days complying with the UAE
air quality limits.
KHADEJAH SCHOOL URBAN BACKGROUND

84
KHALIFA SCHOOL SUBURBAN BACKGROUND 79
91 79
73 90
AL MAQTA SUBURBAN BACKGROUND 60
Khadejah School
Al Maqta
83 95 Hamdan Street
KHALIFA CITY A SUBURBAN BACKGROUND 79 Sweihan
67 86
67
BANIYAS SCHOOL SUBURBAN BACKGROUND 94
Khalifa School 57 Khalifa City A
65 85 Al Tawia
MUSSAFAH SUBURBAN INDUSTRIAL Mussafah 68
54
Ruwais 81 79 80
63 87
AL MAFRAQ SUBURBAN INDUSTRIAL Al Mafraq Baniyas School

Gayathi School 81 88 85
Habshan South
AL AIN REGION
91 Zakher
83
AL AIN STREET URBAN TRAFFIC Al Ain Islamic Institute Al Ain Street
N
AL AIN ISLAMIC 79
Bida Zayed 72
URBAN BACKGROUND
INSTITUTE 68 77

AL TAWIA SUBURBAN BACKGROUND Al Qua’a

Liwa Oasis

ZAKHER URBAN BACKGROUND 90 60 30 15 0

Kilometre

SWEIHAN SUBURBAN BACKGROUND

AL QUA’A REGIONAL RURAL BACKGROUND The percentage of compliant days

PM10
present AQI values below 100,
O3 which are normally expected to be
AL DHAFRA REGION satisf actor y

E11 ROAD RURAL TRAFFIC

BIDA ZAYED SUBURBAN BACKGROUND

THE PERCENTAGE OF
HABSHAN SOUTH RURAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANT DAYS
WITHIN THE YEAR
RUWAIS SUBURBAN INDUSTRIAL
IN ABU DHABI
GAYATHI SCHOOL SUBURBAN BACKGROUND MONITORING STATIONS

LIWA OASIS REGIONAL RURAL BACKGROUND

SO2 NO2 CO
Measured Parameters
 07
METEOROLOGICAL DATA
All EAD air quality monitoring stations are equipped with sensors to record meteorological parameters, which are
essential to understand the ambient air quality patterns and local meteorological conditions. The meteorological
parameters measured are: wind speed, wind direction, temperature, relative humidity, net radiation and barometric
pressure.

The prevailing winds over Abu Dhabi are northwesterly winds, though differences in wind speed and wind direction may
occur in specific locations due to local conditions and patterns. During the night, wind blowing from south-southeast
also has a high percentage of occurrence.

The below map shows the wind roses in all of Abu Dhabi stations in 2021, and the wind rose is a graphic tool used to
describe the distribution of the wind speed and wind direction in a particular location. The frequency of the winds is
plotted by wind direction, with colour bands showing wind speed ranges. The direction of the longest spoke shows the
predominant wind direction in that location.
N

WIND SPEED/DIRECTION DATA IN

N N

ABU DHABI STATIONS IN 2021 W E

N
W E

W E W E

W E

N
S

Sweihan
S

S S

E11 Road Hamdan Street Al Maqta

S
W E
N

Khadejah School
N

W E

W E
W E
S

Al Tawia
Khalifa School
S
W E

Habshan South
Zakher
N

S
S

Ruwais N
Khalifa City A S

W E
Al Ain Institute
N

W E
Baniyas School
Gayathi School
N
N

S
W E

N S

Bida Zayed
W E

Al Ain Street
W E

Mussafah
N

WIND SPEED S
N
Al Mafraq Al Qua’a
S
W E
N

0 to 2 m/s N W E

2 to 4 m/s W E

W E
W E
S

4 to 6 m/s
Liwa Oasis
S

More than 6 m/s S

15
S S

90 60 30
Kilometre
08 09
PARTICULATE PARTICULATE
MATTER
PM10 MATTER
PM2.5
Figure 2 shows the annual average PM2.5 concentrations by region together with the
Figure 1 shows the annual average PM10 concentrations by region together linear regression of PM2.5 annual means measured at all stations from the beginning of
with the linear regression of PM10 annual means measured at all stations 2012 until the end of 2021.
from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021.

Overall, there was a slight decrease in the trend of PM10 concentrations
from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021. During 2021, PM10
concentration increased in both of Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region,
while decreased in both of Abu Dhabi industrial areas and Abu Dhabi
Region. In Abu Dhabi Region the lowest concentration of PM10 recorded
by Hamdan Street station, in Al Ain Region recorded by Sweihan station,
and in Al Dhafra Region recorded by Ruwais station.
Overall, there was a very slight decrease in the trend of PM2.5 concentrations from
the beginning of 2012 until the end of 2021. During 2021, PM2.5 concentration slightly
increased in all region except in Abu Dhabi industrial areas. In Abu Dhabi Region the
lowest concentration of PM2.5 recorded by Mussafah station, in Al Ain Region recorded
by Al Tawia station, and in Al Dhafra Region recorded by E11 Road Station.

ANNUAL AVERAGE PM10 CONCENTRATIONS ANNUAL AVERAGE PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS

Abu Dhabi Region AD Ind.Area Al Ain Region Linear (PM10 tendency) Al Dhafra Region Abu Dhabi Region AD Ind.Area Al Ain Region Linear (PM2.5 tendency) Al Dhafra Region
µg/m3 µg/m3
250 75

200 60

150 45

100 30

50 15

0 0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Figure1: Figure2:

Averages of the annual average concentrations of PM10 given for the sites in Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, Abu Averages of the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 given for the sites in Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, Abu
Dhabi Region, and Abu Dhabi Industrial Areas. The overall Abu Dhabi Emirate PM10 trend (linear regression) from Dhabi Region, and Abu Dhabi Industrial Areas. The overall Abu Dhabi Emirate PM2.5 trend (linear regression)
2007 to 2021 is shown as the dotted line. from 2012 to 2021 is shown as the dotted line.
Averages were above 350 µg/m3 are:
93
days

51 39 50 41
days 37 days days days
days
30
days

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

> 350 µg/m 3
10
OZONE
O3 O3
Figure 3 shows the annual average O3 concentrations by
TREND
region together with the linear regression of O3 annual means
measured at all stations from the beginning of 2007 until the
end of 2021. Ozone trend can be related to the following factors:

Overall, there was a notable increase in the trend of O3

concentrations from the beginning of 2007 until the end of
2021. During 2021, O3 concentration almost constant in all
regions. In Abu Dhabi Region the lowest concentration of O3

O3
recorded by Khalifa School station, in Al Ain Region recorded
by Al Ain Islamic Institute station, and in Al Dhafra Region
recorded by Habshan South Station.

DECREASE INCREASE

ANNUAL AVERAGE O3 CONCENTRATIONS

Abu Dhabi Region Al Dhafra Region Al Ain Region Linear (Ozone tendency)
µg/m 3

120
Expand the use of renewable An Increase of traffic and
energy(e.g. solar energy) to industrial activities.
reduce greenhouse gases.

96

72

48
Apply the best available Effect of global atmospheric
technologies to control circulation.
emissions.

24

0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Figure3:

Averages of annual average concentrations for O3 given for the sites in the Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, and Abu Dhabi
Region. A total Abu Dhabi Emirate trend for O3 (linear regression) from 2007 to 2021 is presented as the dotted line.

Encourage the use of Climate change increasing

international best practices global temperature leading
to minimise emissions. to higher potential for O3
generation
11 12
SULFUR NITROGEN
DIOXIDE
SO2 DIOXIDE
NO2
Figure 5 shows the annual average NO2 concentrations by region together
Figure 4 shows the annual average SO2 concentrations by region with the linear regression of NO2 annual means measured at all
together with the linear regression of SO2 annual means measured stations from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021.
at all stations from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021.
Overall, NO2 concentrations trend had a very slight decrease from the
Overall, there was an increase in the trend of SO2 concentrations beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021. During 2021, NO2 concentration
from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021. During 2021, SO2 increased in both of Abu Dhabi Region and Abu Dhabi Industrial Areas,
concentration decreased in all regions. In Abu Dhabi Region the while stable in both of Al Ain Region and Al Dhafra Region. In Abu Dhabi
lowest concentration of SO2 recorded by Khalifa City A Station, Region the lowest concentration of NO2 recorded by Khalifa School Station,
in Al Ain Region recorded by Sweihan Station and in Al Dhafra in Al Ain Region recorded by Al Qua`a Station, and in Al Dhafra Region
Region recorded by Liwa Oasis Station. recorded by Liwa Oasis Station.

The annual average NO2 concentrations reached 132 % at Hamdan Street

station, 153 % at Mussafah station, and 125 % at Al Mafraq station of the
annual WHO 2005 guideline value.

ANNUAL AVERAGE SO2 CONCENTRATIONS ANNUAL AVERAGE NO2 CONCENTRATIONS

Abu Dhabi Region AD Ind. Area Al Ain Region Linear (SO2 tendency) Al Dhafra Region Abu Dhabi Region AD Ind. Area Al Ain Region Linear (NO2 tendency) Al Dhafra Region

µg/m3 µg/m 3

20 70

18
60
16

14 50

12
40

10

30
8

6 20

4
10
2

0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Figure 4: Figure 5:

Averages of annual average concentrations for SO2 given for the sites in the Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, Abu Dhabi Region, Averages of annual average concentrations for NO2 given for the sites in the Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, Abu Dhabi Region,
and Abu Dhabi Industrial Areas. A total Abu Dhabi Emirate SO2 trend (linear regression) from 2007 to 2021 is presented as the and Abu Dhabi Industrial Areas. A total Abu Dhabi Emirate NO2 trend (linear regression) from 2007 to 2021 is presented as the
dotted line. dotted line.
13 14
CARBON
MONOXIDE
CO
Figure 6 shows the annual average CO concentrations by region
together with the linear regression of CO annual means measured
at all stations from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021.
Overall, there was a decrease in the trend of CO concentrations
from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2021. During 2021, CO
concentration decreased in all regions and CO concentrations
never exceeded any of the air quality limit value in the same year.
HYDROGEN
SULFIDE
H2S
There is no air quality limit value for H2S in UAE. H2S is not one of the
criteria pollutants, but may cause odour nuisance at concentrations far
below those that cause health hazards. The World Health Organization
has presented a 24 hour average guideline value of 150 μg/m3. Half-hour
average concentrations exceeding 7 μg/m3 are likely to produce odour
problems and complaints among persons exposed.
The WHO guideline given for 24-hour average concentration of H2S at
150 μg/m3 was never exceeded.

In Abu Dhabi Emirate H2S concentrations are well within the health
threshold recommended by WHO. However, there has been as increase
in H2S concentrations in some specific area, which may cause odour
nuisances.

ANNUAL AVERAGE CO CONCENTRATIONS

Abu Dhabi Region Al Dhafra Region Al Ain Region Linear (CO tendency)
mg/m3
3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Figure 6 :

Averages of annual average concentrations for CO given for the sites in the Al Dhafra Region, Al Ain Region, and Abu Dhabi
Region. A total Abu Dhabi Emirate trend (linear regression) for all stations from 2007 to 2021 is presented as the dotted line.
15
CONCLUSION
Natural and man-made activities are the main contributors to the air quality
of Abu Dhabi. Our desert environment plays an important role in quality of
the air as well. As our population grows, our contribution to the level of air
quality will get affected.

To sum up, compared to the previous year, 2021 show a decrease in the
average of PM2.5 concentration in both of Abu Dhabi industrial areas and
Abu Dhabi Region, PM10 concentration slightly increased in all regions
except Abu Dhab industrial areas, and O3 concentration almost constant in
all regions. However SO2 , NO2 and CO were compliant in all the stations.
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Photo credit: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi

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