Best time to visit Abu Dhabi

The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is during winter from mid-November to late-March, thereby avoiding the intense heat that is the norm in Abu Dhabi for most of the year.


Abu Dhabi weather

Abu Dhabi has a subtropical desert climate, with mild or pleasantly warm winters, from November to April, and scorchingly hot summers, from May to October, when the combination of temperature and humidity makes the heat oppressive.

Which is the hottest month in Abu Dhabi?
The hottest month in Abu Dhabi is usually August, with an average high temperature of 41°C (105°F), with scorching heat and a low of 31°C (87°F).

On the warmest days of the month, the temperature may climb to around 46°C (114°F).

The hot season lasts from mid-May to late-September, with an average daily high temperature above 38°C (100°F).

Which is the coldest month in Abu Dhabi?
The coldest month of the year in Abu Dhabi is January, with an average high of 24°C (75°F) and a low of 14°C (57°F).

The cool season lasts from early-December to early-March, with an average daily high temperature below 27°C (80°F).

Which is the sunniest month in Abu Dhabi?
The sunniest month in Abu Dhabi is usually November with an average of 10 hours of sunshine per day; that's on average 87% of daylight hours.

The amount of sunshine in Abu Dhabi is good year-round: blue, sunny skies are the norm.

When is the sea warmest in Abu Dhabi?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Abu Dhabi in August when water temperatures average 34°C (93°F), which is very pleasant for swimming.

The time of year with warmer water lasts from mid-June to mid-October, with an average temperature above 31°C (87°F).

The time of year with cooler water lasts from late-December through March, with an average temperature below 23°C (73°F), which is cool for swimming. February has the coolest water with an average temperature of 21°C (69°F).

Which month has the most rain in Abu Dhabi?
February is usually the wettest month in Abu Dhabi with 21mm (‹1in) of rainfall on average, which is distributed across three days.

The rainy period of the year lasts from mid-January to mid-March. Rainfall usually occurs in the form of brief, intense showers.

Which is the windiest month in Abu Dhabi?
The windiest month of the year in Abu Dhabi is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 16 kilometres per hour (10 mph; 8.6 knots).

The windy part of the year lasts from late-December to mid-April, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).

The less-windy time of year lasts from mid-April through to late-December. The calmest month of the year in Abu Dhabi is September, with an average hourly wind speed of 12 kilometres per hour (7.5 mph; 6.5 knots).

The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year in Abu Dhabi.


Abu Dhabi Weather Averages

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high temperature (°C)
24 26 28 33 38 40 41 41 39 35 30 26
Average low temperature (°C)
15 16 19 22 26 28 31 31 29 25 21 17
Average daily sunshine (hrs)
8 8 8 10 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 8
Average daily daylight (hrs)
11 11 12 13 13 13 13 13 12 11 11 10
Comfort level
Low heat & humidity icon Low heat & humidity icon Moderately hot icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon Extreme heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon Low heat & humidity icon
Average relative humidity (%)
61 59 55 47 42 48 49 47 52 54 56 61
UV Index (max)
6 8 10 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11 9 7 6
Average days of rainfall (≥1mm)
1 3 3 1 - - - - - - - 2
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
7 21 15 6 - - 1 - - - - 6
Average wind speed (km/h)
15 16 16 14 14 14 13 12 12 12 13 14
Average sea temperature (°C)
21 21 22 25 29 31 33 34 33 31 28 24
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Holiday seasons

High Season: October to May, with December and January the busiest months.

Low season: April to September during the summer months when hotel prices are usually at a discount.


Source: Meteorological data for Abu Dhabi, UAE is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), United Arab Emirates, at the closest weather station: Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), located 12km (7.5mi) southeast of Abu Dhabi city.

Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.


More about Abu Dhabi…


Latest update: Best time to visit Abu Dhabi: 10 May, 2024


Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.



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