This study evaluates the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model’s ability to simulate summer urban heat island (UHI) effects across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) using a simple bulk urban parameterization. WRF downscales ERA-Interim reanalysis data at 16 km and nested 4 km resolutions for 2000–2002. Model biases show overestimation of maximum air temperatures (+1–2°C) and underestimation of minimums (−1–2°C) against ERA5-Land, with larger land surface biases, though 16 km performs better than 4 km when validated against station and satellite observations (possibly due to the lack of model physics optimization in the highest resolution). Detailed analysis for Cairo reveals nighttime
air/surface UHIs of 3–5°C and daytime surface cool islands of 5–10°C, driven by urban-rural contrasts in albedo, soil moisture, and heat storage. Averaged across 11 EMME cities, results indicate stronger nighttime surface UHIs (5–6°C) than air UHIs (3–4°C), with pronounced daytime surface cool islands (−12.5°C) and minor canopy heat islands (1–1.5°C). The results indicate the suitability of the simple urban model treatment for multi-city regional climate change assessments in the EMME region.