Skip to main content

 Climates to travel
 World climate guide
 
 Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Open menu
 Home

 Africa

 N.America

 S.America

 Antarctica

 Asia

 Caribbean

 Europe

 M.East

 Oceania

 All the countries
Select units of measurement for the temperature and rainfall tables (metric or imperial).

Climate in United Arab Emirates


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - United Arab Emirates

Map - United Arab Emirates

You are here: Home --> Middle East --> United Arab Emirates


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email




The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a desert climate, characterized by pleasantly mild winters and very hot, sunny summers, with the humidity of the Persian Gulf that makes the heat unbearable.

Annual precipitation is almost everywhere below 100 millimeters (4 inches) and is concentrated in the winter months. The rains are rare, but they occur in the form of showers or downpours, which can sometimes be intense.

The country is made up of seven emirates, almost all overlooking the Persian Gulf (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain) and one overlooking the Gulf of Oman (Fujairah). The biggest emirate, which also includes the capital, is Abu Dhabi, even though the most famous one is Dubai because of its futuristic buildings and modern tourist resorts.

In the northeast, in the Al Hajar Mountains, which separate the coast of the Persian Gulf from that of the Gulf of Oman, the climate is still desert, although, in the winter months, it rains a bit more often than it does at sea level. Temperatures do not drop by much compared with the plain, except in the areas above 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), where it can get cold in winter, while in summer, the heat is more bearable.

The south of the country, in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, is occupied by the vast sand desert called Rub al-Khali, and is almost uninhabited except in the oases, such as that of Liwa, and near oil and gas extraction facilities. Here, the climate is similar to that of the coast, and it's even hotter in summer, but the air is drier because of the greater distance from the sea.

The climate in detail


  • The seasons - Abu Dhabi
  • Sea temperature
  • Cyclones
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The seasons



Winter, from December to February, is very mild or pleasantly warm: the maximum temperatures range from 24 °C to 26 °C (76 °F to 80 °F). Sometimes, especially in January, cool air masses from the north can bring some cool and windy days, during which the temperature can drop to around 10/12 °C (50/54 °F) at night and around 16/18 °C (61/64 °F) during the day.
Summer is very hot and sunny, with daytime temperatures ranging from 38 °C to 42 °C (101 °F to 108 °F) between May and September, and with the wind from the Persian Gulf that brings moist air from the sea, making the heat sweltering. April and October are also hot months, with highs around 33/36 °C (92/96 °F). During the hottest days, the temperature can reach 48/49 °C (118/120 °F) on the coast, and even more in the interior.
Luckily, buildings are air-conditioned.

Emirates, desert

All year round, but especially in spring, the United Arab Emirates may be affected by strong winds, which can bring dust and sand storms.

Abu Dhabi

Climate chart - Abu Dhabi
In Abu Dhabi, the capital, the daily average temperature ranges from 19 degrees Celsius (66 °F) in January (so, we are at the boundary between the subtropical and the tropical climate) to around 37 °C (98.5 °F) in August.
In a typical year, only 55 millimeters (2.1 inches) of rain fall, most of which occurring between December and March. In Dubai, still on the coast but more to the north, precipitation reaches 95 mm (3.7 in) per year.
The sun in the Emirates shines all year round, however, cloud banks may sometimes pass over the country, both in winter and in summer.

Abu Dhabi

Sea temperature



The sea in the Emirates is warm enough for swimming all year round, although it drops to 23 °C (73 °F) from January to March. In summer, it gets very warm, and it exceeds 30 °C (86 °F) from June to October, so as to allow long swims.
On the Gulf of Oman, the sea in winter is a bit warmer than in the Persian Gulf.

Tropical cyclones



Every now and then, the United Arab Emirates can be reached by tropical cyclones, which bring strong winds and heavy rains, as happened with Cyclone Gonu in early June 2007, though it happens more rarely than in neighboring Oman.
The area most at risk is the northern one, and in particular, the emirate of Fujairah, which overlooks the coast of the Gulf of Oman; in contrast, the inland and western areas are generally spared.
Cyclones form from May to December, and are more frequent at the beginning of the period (May-June) and a little less at the end (October-December).

When to go



The best time to visit the United Arab Emirates is winter, from December to February, which is a pleasant and sunny season, and which allows you to avoid the oppressive heat of the long warm season.
For a beach holiday, the best months are March and November (with a preference for the latter because the sea is warmer), while in the long summer, when it gets too hot, even sunbathing can be a challenge.

What to pack



In winter, pack light clothes for the day, a sweater and a jacket for the evening and for cool days, and a scarf for the wind.
In summer, pack lightweight clothes, loose-fitting and made of natural fabric (cotton or linen), a desert turban, and a sweatshirt and a scarf for air-conditioned places. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts outside of tourist resorts.

Climate data - United Arab Emirates


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, location on the map
Abu Dhabi, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.141518212527303027242016
Max temp.242630354041424341373126
Precip.1010155000000010
Prec. days323110110122
Humidity68%66%61%53%50%54%55%54%60%62%65%69%
Day length108114120128133136135129123116109106
Sun hours8991011111110101098
Sea temp222122252931323333312825

Al Ain (265 meters)
Al Ain, location on the map
Al Ain, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.131417222628303128241915
Max temp.252831374245454542383127
Precip.15520500500005
Prec. days325210110012
Humidity63%55%48%36%30%33%37%35%39%43%53%61%
Day length108114120128133136135129123116110107
Sun hours9991011111010101099

Dibba Al-Fujairah
Dibba Al-Fujairah, location on the map
Dibba Al-Fujairah, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171820252931323129262219
Max temp.252629343939383636343027
Precip.201025100000051025
Day length108113120128134137135130123115109106
Sea temp242324262932333332302825

Dubai
Dubai, location on the map
Dubai, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.151619222629313229252117
Max temp.242629343840424240363126
Precip.2010205000000515
Prec. days323200000014
Humidity61%59%55%47%42%48%49%47%52%54%56%61%
Day length108113120128134137135130123115109106
Sun hours8991111111111101098
Sea temp232223262931333332312825

Fujairah
Fujairah, location on the map
Fujairah, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.171820252931323129262219
Max temp.252629343939383636343027
Precip.201025100000051025
Prec. days434200010122
Humidity63%64%61%51%47%57%67%73%69%59%60%63%
Day length108113120128134137135130123115109106
Sea temp242324262932333332302825

Ras Al Khaimah
Ras Al Khaimah, location on the map
Ras Al Khaimah, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.121416202427302926221814
Max temp.252730364143434341383227
Precip.30203050000001020
Prec. days434100000013
Humidity71%69%64%54%46%50%51%51%58%61%65%70%
Day length107113120128134137136130123115109106
Sun hours788101111910101098



See also the temperatures month by month

Back to top


© Copyright Climatestotravel.com. 

Back to Middle East

All the countries


Share this page:
Facebook LinkedIn Whatsapp Email



 See also (cities or regions):
 Dubai

 Weather by month:
 January
 February
 March
 April
 May
 June
 July
 August
 September
 October
 November
 December

 Nearby countries:
 Bahrain
 Iran
 Kuwait
 Oman
 Qatar
 Saudi Arabia

 Continents:
 Africa
 North America
 South America
 Antarctica
 Asia
 Caribbean
 Europe
 Middle East
 Oceania

 Search in the website:

Home About Contact Us Useful Links Policy
Home
About
Contact Us
Useful Links
Policy