Best time to visit Abu Dhabi
The best time to visit Abu Dhabi is December–March, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23.4 °C / 74 °F | 16.5 °C / 62 °F | 8 mm / 0.3 in | best month |
| February | 24.9 °C / 77 °F | 17.4 °C / 63 °F | 5 mm / 0.2 in | best month |
| March | 28.1 °C / 83 °F | 19.8 °C / 68 °F | 10 mm / 0.4 in | best month |
| April | 32.4 °C / 90 °F | 23.5 °C / 74 °F | 7 mm / 0.3 in | good month |
| May | 36.5 °C / 98 °F | 27.4 °C / 81 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 38.4 °C / 101 °F | 29.9 °C / 86 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 39.8 °C / 104 °F | 32 °C / 90 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 40.4 °C / 105 °F | 32.3 °C / 90 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 38.4 °C / 101 °F | 29.8 °C / 86 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 34.8 °C / 95 °F | 26.7 °C / 80 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 30 °C / 86 °F | 22.8 °C / 73 °F | 3 mm / 0.1 in | good month |
| December | 25.5 °C / 78 °F | 18.8 °C / 66 °F | 5 mm / 0.2 in | best month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: best
- Best
- December–March
- Good
- April, November
Abu Dhabi is best for exploring outdoors from December through March when it is mild, dry and sunny. April and November sit at the warm edge of comfort, while May through October bring extreme desert heat that makes walking around impractical.
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 23.4 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 8 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 16.5 °C / 62 °F, relative humidity 66%.
Also on: Al Dhafra Festival, Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
February · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.9 °C / 77 °F, precipitation 5 mm / 0.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 17.4 °C / 63 °F, relative humidity 64%.
Also on: Middle East Film and Comic Con, Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.2 °C / 83 °F, precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 1.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily high 28.1 °C / 83 °F, relative humidity 59%, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F.
Also on: Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, relative humidity 53%.
Against: feels like (high) 33.3 °C / 92 °F, average daily high 32.4 °C / 90 °F, average daily low 23.5 °C / 74 °F.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, relative humidity 61%.
Against: feels like (high) 31.2 °C / 88 °F, average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F, average daily low 22.8 °C / 73 °F.
Also on: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Watch out for: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix crowds.
December · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.2 °C / 77 °F, average daily high 25.5 °C / 78 °F, precipitation 5 mm / 0.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 18.8 °C / 66 °F, relative humidity 65%.
Beach and swimming
Hot, dry and sunny. Penalises the monsoon hard.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: good
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- March–April, November–December
- Good
- January–February, May, October
The sea runs cool in winter (December-February) but sun and dryness are still excellent, so March, April and November-December are the standout beach months. Peak summer (June-September) brings heat well past ideal even for a beach day, with May and October sitting at the hot, still-workable edge.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: precipitation 8 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, wet days 1.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 23.4 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph, average daily low 16.5 °C / 62 °F.
Against: sea temperature 21.9 °C / 71 °F, feels like (high) 22.4 °C / 72 °F.
Also on: Al Dhafra Festival, Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
February · good
In its favour: precipitation 5 mm / 0.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, average daily high 24.9 °C / 77 °F, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 24.3 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 17.4 °C / 63 °F, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.
Against: sea temperature 21.4 °C / 71 °F.
Also on: Middle East Film and Comic Con, Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 28.1 °C / 83 °F, precipitation 10 mm / 0.4 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, feels like (high) 28.2 °C / 83 °F, wet days 1.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 19.8 °C / 68 °F, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.
Against: sea temperature 23.4 °C / 74 °F.
Also on: Ramadan iftar atmosphere.
Watch out for: Ramadan restaurant closures.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 32.4 °C / 90 °F, precipitation 7 mm / 0.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, feels like (high) 33.3 °C / 92 °F, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 23.5 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 96%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, wind (daily max) 25 km/h / 15 mph, average daily low 27.4 °C / 81 °F.
Against: average daily high 36.5 °C / 98 °F, feels like (high) 38.7 °C / 102 °F.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.2 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph, average daily low 26.7 °C / 80 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 38 °C / 100 °F, average daily high 34.8 °C / 95 °F.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, feels like (high) 31.2 °C / 88 °F, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 22.8 °C / 73 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Also on: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Watch out for: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix crowds.
December · best
In its favour: precipitation 5 mm / 0.2 in, average daily high 25.5 °C / 78 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 25.2 °C / 77 °F, average daily low 18.8 °C / 66 °F, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.
Against: sea temperature 24.8 °C / 77 °F.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is پیست اسکی پولادکف, Pooladkaf Ski Resort, 702 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 22.4 °C | 24.3 °C | 28.2 °C | 33.3 °C | 38.7 °C | 42.3 °C | 45 °C | 45.8 °C | 42.9 °C | 38 °C | 31.2 °C | 25.2 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 0.2 days | 0.1 days | 0.3 days | 0.1 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0.1 days | 0.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 5 am | 10 am | 6 am | 6 pm | 5 am | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 10.3 h | 10.6 h | 10.7 h | 11.8 h | 12.7 h | 12.8 h | 12.4 h | 12.1 h | 11.3 h | 10.9 h | 10.1 h | 10 h |
| Relative humidity | 66% | 64% | 59% | 53% | 52% | 57% | 56% | 55% | 60% | 61% | 61% | 65% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 21.9 °C | 21.4 °C | 23.4 °C | 26.3 °C | 30 °C | 32.8 °C | 34.3 °C | 34.8 °C | 34.1 °C | 31.9 °C | 28.5 °C | 24.8 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 22.1 °C | 21.7 °C | 23.8 °C | 26.7 °C | 30.4 °C | 33.1 °C | 34.6 °C | 35.1 °C | 34.4 °C | 32.1 °C | 28.7 °C | 24.9 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 23 µg/m³ | 26.5 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | 38.3 µg/m³ | 36.2 µg/m³ | 43.9 µg/m³ | 52.9 µg/m³ | 49.4 µg/m³ | 45.1 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | 30 µg/m³ | 30 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 34.8 µg/m³ | 43.5 µg/m³ | 44.3 µg/m³ | 74.6 µg/m³ | 63.8 µg/m³ | 70 µg/m³ | 71.5 µg/m³ | 73.7 µg/m³ | 79.4 µg/m³ | 45.9 µg/m³ | 44.6 µg/m³ | 46.4 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Al Dhafra Festival
January
- Ramadan iftar atmosphere
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Middle East Film and Comic Con
February
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
November
Worth knowing before you go
- Ramadan restaurant closures
January, February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix crowds
November