Remote estimation of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) by Heliosat-2 model has been benchmarked against ground-based measurements in different locations. The obtained results have shown that the level of agreement between ground-based and model-based GHI values are location dependent. To our knowledge no similar studies have been carried out over the Arabian Peninsula. The unique climatic condition in the Peninsula, characterized by high concentrations of airborne dust particles and high humidity makes the region a particularly interesting case. In this study Heliosat-2 method was used to derive the ground surface GHI in the United Arab Emirates. Inputs to the model were monthly Linke turbidity factor normalized to an air mass of 2 and a cloud index derived from SEVIRI sensor onboard the European satellite Meteosat. The Linke turbidity factor was obtained from a ground network of seven stations distributed across the UAE. A SEVIRI-based technique was developed and used to derive cloud index from high-resolution visible channels. Ground surface GHI measurements were collected from four inland stations for a period ranging from mid-2007 to mid-2010. The obtained results show that the Heliosat-2 model underestimates the GHI. The obtained root mean square error (RMSE) and mean bias error (MBE) values ranged from 16.3% to 18.5% and -13.6% to -15.8%, respectively. A constant bias was observed between modeled and measured GHI throughout the four stations. To correct this bias, the empirical equation used in Heliosat-2 to estimate the clear sky diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHIclear) was recalibrated. With the new DHIclear empirical equation, the modified Heliosat-2 model becomes more adapted to desert and dusty environments such as that of the UAE. By applying the modified DHIclear equation, the RMSE and MBE values dropped to 9.5-10.3% and -1.2 to +0.8%, respectively. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.