Winter
Dec → Feb24 to 27°
nights 15 to 18°
- 2 rainy days · 22 mm
- 9.9 h of sun
- sea 23°
When is the best time to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
- Jan24°recommended
- Feb25°recommended
- Mar29°recommended
- Apr32°fair
- May36°not recommended
- Jun39°not recommended
- Jul41°not recommended
- Aug41°not recommended
- Sep39°not recommended
- Oct35°fair
- Nov31°recommended
- Dec27°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24° | 15° | 9.9 h | 42 mm | 4 d | 22° | ✓ |
| February | 25° | 17° | 10.1 h | 16 mm | 1 d | 22° | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 19° | 10.3 h | 13 mm | 1 d | 24° | ✓ |
| April | 32° | 22° | 11.1 h | 26 mm | 1 d | 26° | |
| May | 36° | 25° | 12.2 h | 3 mm | 0 d | 30° | |
| June | 39° | 28° | 12.4 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 33° | |
| July | 41° | 31° | 11.6 h | 5 mm | 1 d | 35° | |
| August | 41° | 31° | 11.4 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 34° | |
| September | 39° | 28° | 11.3 h | 0 mm | 0 d | 34° | |
| October | 35° | 25° | 10.7 h | 2 mm | 0 d | 32° | |
| November | 31° | 22° | 9.9 h | 6 mm | 1 d | 29° | ✓ |
| December | 27° | 18° | 9.7 h | 8 mm | 1 d | 24° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May29 to 36°
nights 19 to 25°
- 1 rainy days · 14 mm
- 11.2 h of sun
- sea 27°
Summer
Jun → Aug39 to 41°
nights 28 to 31°
- 0 rainy days · 2 mm
- 11.8 h of sun
- sea 34°
Autumn
Sep → Nov31 to 39°
nights 22 to 28°
- 0 rainy days · 3 mm
- 10.6 h of sun
- sea 32°
Book early for November to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 13h42 of daylight, in December 10h35, a difference of 3h07.
10h44Jan
11h17Feb
11h57Mar
12h43Apr
13h22May
13h42Jun
13h34Jul
13h01Aug
12h16Sep
11h31Oct
10h53Nov
10h35Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Dubai and the Burj Khalifa" (25.20°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month
EventsAbu Dhabi Grand PrixNovember to DecemberNational DayDecemberDubai Shopping FestivalDecember to JanuaryDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: January, February, March, December
- Towns & culture: January, February, March, November, December
- Diving & snorkelling: April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- November to DecemberAbu Dhabi Grand Prix big crowds
The final round of the Formula 1 season is raced at night on the Yas Marina Circuit, at the turn of November and December.
- DecemberNational Day
In early December, flags on cars, parades and fireworks mark the anniversary of the union of the seven emirates.
- December to JanuaryDubai Shopping Festival big crowds
A month and a half of sales, raffles and shows in Dubai's shopping malls, from late December to late January.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended24°15° at night
- 42 mm · 4 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 22°
High season, book early
February
Recommended25°17° at night
- 16 mm · 1 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 22°
High season, book early
March
Recommended29°19° at night
- 13 mm · 1 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 24°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair32°22° at night
- 26 mm · 1 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 26°
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended36°25° at night
- 3 mm · 0 d
- 12.2 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended39°28° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 12.4 h
- sea 33°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended41°31° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
- 11.6 h
- sea 35°
Low season, lower prices
August
Not recommended41°31° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 11.4 h
- sea 34°
Low season, lower prices
September
Not recommended39°28° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 11.3 h
- sea 34°
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair35°25° at night
- 2 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 32°
Low season, lower prices
November
Recommended31°22° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- 9.9 h
- sea 29°
High season, book early
December
Recommended27°18° at night
- 8 mm · 1 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 24°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 24 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 42 mm over 4 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
February. 25 °C in the afternoon and 17 °C at night. Hardly any rain (16 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 22 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 19 °C at night. Hardly any rain (13 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (26 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 26 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Real heat: 36 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Real heat: 39 °C at the warmest of the day, 28 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 33 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 41 °C at the warmest of the day, 31 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 35 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. Real heat: 41 °C at the warmest of the day, 31 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.4 h a day on average. The sea is at 34 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Real heat: 39 °C at the warmest of the day, 28 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. The sea is at 34 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. Real heat: 35 °C at the warmest of the day, 25 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 32 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
December. 27 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Hardly any rain (8 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 24 °C: pleasant swimming. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
November to March: over these months, recorded highs range from 24 to 31 °C, with 2 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
Which month should you avoid in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 5 mm over 1 day of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
What is the hottest month in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
July, with 41 °C on average in the afternoon and 31 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
What is the coldest month in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
January, with 24 °C at best during the day and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
What is the driest month in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
June: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 42 mm in January, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
June, with 12.4 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 22 to 35 °C depending on the month (warmest in July), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
When is the best time to hike in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
January, February, March, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa), the safest windows for walking.
When to go diving or snorkelling in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November: the sea is above 25 °C, warm enough to stay in a long time without a thick wetsuit. 2023-2024 records on the nearest coast (Dubai and the Burj Khalifa).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
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