Tips to keep your parked car cool in the UAE heat

UAE, for the most part, is a car lover’s paradise.

But even the best of cars can’t escape the scorching sun and the desert heat.

For most of us living here, opening the car door to an uncomfortably hot interior and scalding  seats is the norm.

However, hot cars aren't just inconvenient, they can also be unsafe. Temperatures shoot up  rapidly for a car parked in the sun. So, leaving your pets or even electronics in one is never  advisable. Direct sun can also cause tears and cracks in your beautiful car seats and damage  your car functions.

Following a few simple tips can help you keep things cooler.

5 Tips to keep your parked car cool

1. The better parking spot is in the shade

The mental checklist for finding a parking spot usually goes - 'is it close to the entrance?' and  'can I fit my car in there?'. However, when it's 45 degrees outside, finding covered parking  should be your number one priority.

This will make your car so much more comfortable to come back to, even if it means a few extra  minutes of walking.

If an indoor or covered parking isn't available, always try to park under a tree or in the shade of  a building.

2. Block the sun with a windshield shade

Direct sunlight heats up car surfaces like your dashboard, steering wheel and seats.  This heat gets trapped in your car and quickly raises the temperature to uncomfortable levels.

A windshield shade is a simple piece of reflective material - either foil or foam - that reflects  direct sunlight and blocks it from heating up your car cabin.

It doesn’t look like much, but it can do wonders for keeping your car cool during the summers.

If you are put off by the shiny, reflective look of windshield shades on your car, you can invest in  some high-end custom ones. With these you have the liberty to match it to you car’s look.

3. Tint your car windows

In the same line of thought, a more elegant option is tinting your windows.

A high-grade tint on your windows will keep out the heat and the UV rays while still letting in  plenty of light. In the UAE, there are certain rules & regulations you have to follow when it  comes to tinting your windows.

Owing to the harsh conditions, the law allows a maximum total window tinting percentage  (manufacturer’s+added) of 50%.

Do keep in mind that going over the maximum allowed limit might incur hefty fines.

4. Cover up your vehicle interior

The biggest cause of sweltering temperatures in your car is your vehicle interiors. They absorb  heat from the sun and trap it in the car.

Investing in covers for your dashboard, steering wheel and seats (especially leather) is a good  idea. Light-colored fabric seat covers absorb the least heat and are effective in keeping your interiors cool.

Fabric covers also protect your seats from damage and cracks caused due to the heat. The sun  only ages your car faster, a layer of added protection is never a bad idea.

5. Let the heat escape

If nothing else works, and your car is scorching hot when you find it, let out all the built-up heat  before driving off.

Roll down your windows instead of blasting your AC. Try opening the door and fanning it for a  couple of seconds to let the heat out. This should help the airflow and help your car quickly cool  down.

After that just try to not get scalded by your seatbelt and let your AC do the work.

At the end of the day….

There is no escaping the sun here in the UAE, but we can always do our best to protect our cars  from damage and ourselves from the heat.

Using these simple tips or two can greatly prolong your car’s life and make it more comfortable  drive.