Weather maps in the Middle East tend to be pretty dull most of the year. Just lots of images of balls of sunlight looming over the region, with only the temperature changing to reflect the move from the searing heat of summer to the refreshing cool of winter.

A rain cloud might thrust its way on to the map of the Arabian Gulf maybe three or four times a year, but apart from that it is pretty much sun all the way, the maps would have you believe.

Except that is not actually how it is, says Mohammed Al Shaker, the founder and chief executive of ArabiaWeather.
Source: The National