Choosing shaded parking, leaving the windows open a small amount, and letting the air conditioner run briefly before driving can make a noticeable difference in keeping your vehicle cooler.
With UAE summer temperatures soaring, a parked car can quickly become one of the hottest places you’ll encounter during the day. Heat builds up rapidly inside the cabin, while dashboards and seats absorb intense sunlight. In just a short time, everyday items left inside can melt, leak, lose their effectiveness, become damaged, or even pose a fire risk.
Whether you’re running a quick errand or leaving your vehicle parked at the mall for a few hours, it’s worth knowing what should never be left behind—and what essentials are safe and useful to keep in your car instead.
Items That Can Catch Fire or Explode
The most serious hazards are items that are pressurised, battery-powered, or contain alcohol, as extreme heat can cause them to leak, ignite, or even explode. These include:
- Lighters and matches.
- Perfume bottles, air fresheners, and aerosol sprays such as deodorants and insect repellents.
- Hand sanitisers and other alcohol-based products.
- Power banks, spare phone batteries, and e-cigarettes.
- Mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, which contain lithium-ion batteries.
- Pressurised drink cans and carbonated beverages.
To avoid potential safety risks, it is best to take these items with you whenever you leave your vehicle parked in the sun.
Items That Get Damaged or Become Unsafe
Not everything left in a hot car poses a fire risk, but many everyday items can become damaged, ineffective, or unsafe when exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods. These include:
- Plastic water bottles, which may leach chemicals into the water when left in the heat for hours.
- Prescription medications, vitamins, and insulin, which can lose their effectiveness and, in some cases, become unsafe to use.
- Makeup, sunscreen, lipstick, and skincare products, which can melt or undergo changes in texture and composition.
- Sunglasses with plastic frames, which may warp and lose their shape.
- Chocolate, snacks, and perishable groceries, which can spoil or melt quickly.
- Bank cards, Emirates ID cards, and driving licences, which can bend and suffer damage to their chips or magnetic strips.
- CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and printed photographs, all of which are vulnerable to heat-related deterioration.
Most importantly, never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short errand. Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly, and during a UAE summer, dangerous conditions can develop within minutes.
What You Can Keep in the Car
While many items are best removed from a vehicle during the summer months, a few essentials are worth keeping on hand throughout the year:
- A small dry-powder fire extinguisher, securely mounted and checked regularly for expiry.
- A basic first-aid kit.
- A reflective windscreen sunshade.
- A window-breaking and seatbelt-cutting emergency tool.
- Jumper cables.
- A bottle of water for emergencies, replaced frequently and stored away from direct sunlight.
Simple Habits That Help
A few practical habits can make a significant difference during the hottest months of the year. Parking in shaded or covered areas, slightly cracking the windows open where safe and permitted, and allowing the air conditioning to run for a couple of minutes before setting off can help reduce heat buildup and make driving more comfortable once temperatures peak.
