- Why Do Cars Heat Up So Quickly?
- Tragic Cases in the UAE and Other Arab Countries
- Why Do Parents Forget Children in Cars?
- Health Risks of Heat Exposure in Cars for Children
- Laws and Penalties in Gulf Countries
- Prevention Tips for Heat-Related Car Incidents
- The Importance of Ongoing Awareness and Modern Technology
With rising temperatures during summer, the health risks to children left inside closed cars under the scorching sun increase dramatically. In 2025, several tragic cases of child deaths due to lethal heat exposure inside vehicles have been reported, highlighting the urgent need for awareness and continuous warnings about this dangerous phenomenon—especially in Gulf countries and the Arab world, where temperatures sometimes exceed 50°C (122°F).
Why Do Cars Heat Up So Quickly?
Direct sunlight causes the interior temperature of cars to rise rapidly, often far exceeding the outside temperature. For example, in the UAE, the inside of a parked car can reach over 70°C (158°F) within minutes, making it deadly to leave children alone inside.
Children are more vulnerable because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults. Additionally, foam and fabric car seats retain heat, further increasing the risk of fatal heatstroke.
Tragic Cases in the UAE and Other Arab Countries
In the UAE, a social experiment conducted by Sharjah Police in cooperation with Civil Defense demonstrated how car temperatures can soar to dangerous levels within just 10 minutes, causing participants to suffer symptoms like heatstroke, dizziness, and nausea—confirming the extreme danger of leaving children in closed vehicles.
In April 2025, a 3-year-old Arab girl was rescued in Ras Al Khaimah after being left inside a locked car with malfunctioning air conditioning. She was rushed to intensive care at Saqr Hospital and survived thanks to swift medical intervention.
In July 2021, an 8-year-old boy died in Sharjah after being accidentally locked inside a car. In Dubai in 2019, a 6-year-old child was found dead inside a school bus after being left alone, and a similar incident in Sharjah saw a 2-year-old child survive severe heatstroke inside a car.
Saudi Arabia has also witnessed tragic incidents, including several child deaths in Riyadh and Jeddah during the hot summer months. In one case, a young child died after being forgotten by his father inside a car for hours, sparking widespread calls for increased awareness and stricter child protection laws.
Why Do Parents Forget Children in Cars?
Most parents do not intentionally leave their children in cars; it often happens due to forgetfulness, distraction, or changes in routine. Therefore, parents must take preventive measures such as always checking the back seats before leaving the car and using child alert systems now available in many modern vehicles.
Health Risks of Heat Exposure in Cars for Children
Rapid body temperature rise causes children to lose fluids and essential salts, disrupting the body’s electrical balance, increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and lowering oxygen levels. This can lead to fainting, and in extreme cases, suffocation and death.
Laws and Penalties in Gulf Countries
In the UAE, laws impose severe penalties on parents or guardians who leave children unattended in vehicles, including up to 10 years imprisonment and fines reaching one million dirhams under the "Wadima" Child Protection Law. Authorities also impose fines on violators and urge the public to report any child left alone in a car immediately.
In Saudi Arabia, there are increasing calls to toughen penalties for neglecting children in vehicles, alongside intensive awareness campaigns by security and health authorities to prevent such incidents.
Prevention Tips for Heat-Related Car Incidents
Never leave children alone in a car, even for a short time.
Use child alert systems that notify you if a child is left in the back seat.
Place essential items like your phone or wallet in the back seat as a reminder.
Teach children never to play in or enter a car without supervision.
If you see a child alone in a closed car, call the police immediately.
The Importance of Ongoing Awareness and Modern Technology
Police departments in Dubai, Sharjah, and Riyadh run continuous awareness campaigns, including live demonstrations showing how quickly car temperatures rise and their effects on children’s health. They also encourage the use of vehicles equipped with child detection systems that emit audible and visual alerts if a child is left behind.
Car heat is not just a temporary discomfort but a deadly risk that directly threatens children’s lives. In 2025, statistics show this danger remains persistent and growing, especially in the Arabian Gulf where temperatures can exceed 50°C. Everyone must exercise maximum caution and never leave children unattended in vehicles, as just a few minutes can turn a happy day into an unforgettable tragedy.
