It is always warm and relatively humid here, but an extra factor this year may be the high winds which blow the desert sand into dunes and on to the track surface. Wednesdays Motor Sport Middle East Forum at the nearby RUF building was characteristic by such conditions.
An ambient temperature high of 27 degrees Celsius is forecast on Thursday, with some cloud, followed by 30 degrees on Friday and 28 on Saturday. Race day will be sunny and hot, with the same high of 29 degrees as last year.
The 5.412 km (3.363 mile) circuit is unchanged since Felipe Massa won for Ferrari, last years result being the first time in the races history that the winner had not gone on to win the world championship.
The race will run over 57 laps or 308.238 kilometres (191.539 miles) and will start at 14.30 hours local time, which is three hours ahead of GMT.
