When many people think of visiting the United Arab Emirates, their first thought is to take a trip to Dubai. But Abu Dhabi is another brilliant destination in the Middle East that is well worth a visit, particularly if you’ve never been to this part of the world before.
The geographical location of Abu Dhabi means that the climate is warm all year round, with blisteringly hot summers and milder winters. Exciting events take place at all times of the year however, so there are positives to visiting almost every month of the year.
If you’ve been wondering what the best time to go to Abu Dhabi is, we’ve put together a month-by-month breakdown that provides all the answers.
January is the coldest month of the year in Abu Dhabi, although average temperatures are still very warm and comfortable. It can get up to 24°C during the month with average lows of around 18°C, so many travellers from the northern hemisphere come to the country at this time to enjoy some winter sun.
The average water temperature is 22°C in January, so many people come to enjoy swimming in the sea along the city’s coast.
As well as being the coldest part of the year, the weather in Abu Dhabi in January is actually some of the wettest that the country sees. However, the rainfall that occurs is pretty minimal with only around 6 days seeing light showers and nothing much more.
January is part of the peak season for tourism in Abu Dhabi, as many people come to enjoy the cooler temperatures and get away from the winter weather in other parts of the world. It’s one of the most expensive times of the year to come to the city, as hotel, flight and resort prices will be particularly high.
It’s a popular time of the year for a good reason, however, so if you visit in January, one of the best things to do is hit the beach and soak up some sun. It’s also a good time for activities out in the desert, whilst the temperatures aren’t too severe.
The weather stays warm and mild in February in Abu Dhabi, although low temperatures are some of the coldest that the country faces all year.
The average high temperature in Abu Dhabi in February is 25°C during the day, dropping down to an average of 14°C in the evenings and early mornings. Chances of rainfall decrease, with only 3 days seeing any wet weather, and the average sea temperature is a refreshing 21°C.
February is still part of the high season for tourism in Abu Dhabi, so you can expect the beaches, resorts and hotels along the coast to be packed. It’s a good time to get out and enjoy some of the more active things to do in and around the city whilst the weather is relatively cool, like sightseeing around the Grand Mosque or going quad biking and riding camels in the desert.
The temperature in Abu Dhabi in March starts to climb as the cooler weather comes to an end. The average high is around 29°C during the day and usually drops down to 17°C when it’s dark, so you’ll need to pack a lot of cool, light clothing if you come to visit at this time of the year.
The sea around Abu Dhabi is 22°C in March. Chances of rain increase slightly from the previous month, with 5-6 days usually seeing some kind of rainfall.
March is one of the best times of the year to visit Abu Dhabi. The peak tourist season is coming to an end so busyness is starting to wind down but the weather isn’t too hot yet so you can still enjoy activities like sightseeing and trips into the desert.
It’s a great time of year in particular to visit the Mangrove National Park, which is found on the edge of the city and is home to over 50 beautiful species of bird as well as numerous waterways and mangrove trees. The popular Mother of the Nation Festival is also held in March, celebrating Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak and the work she has done.
As springtime begins in Abu Dhabi the weather starts to get a lot warmer, so it’s unwise to visit the city at this time of year if you’re not very good with intense heat. Whilst the average low temperature during the month is only 20°C, it can get up to 33°C during the day and feel even hotter in the sun.
Rising air temperatures mean the sea gets warmer too, with an average water temperature of 25°C around Abu Dhabi. Humidity is relatively low compared to other times of the year, but it can still feel quite close if the sky is cloudy.
April is the shoulder season for tourism in Abu Dhabi, so prices for accommodation and travel will start to drop a little and crowds won’t be as big. Because of this reduction in visitors, it’s a great time of the year to come for a beach holiday as the weather is hot and sunny and the beaches won’t be as hectic as they are during peak months.
An event that often takes place in April is the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, one of the most popular cross country rallies in the world, where drivers tackle the brutal desert terrain in a range of vehicles over a vast racecourse.
The hot weather really sets in in May in Abu Dhabi, with high temperatures and humidity taking centre stage and almost no chance of rain. It tends to get up to around 38°C during the day which will feel incredibly warm and may be uncomfortable for some travellers, with the average temperature only falling to 23°C at night.
Water temperatures also soar in May, averaging at 29°C which is ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
May is a relatively quiet month for tourism in Abu Dhabi, so it’s a good time to come if you’re travelling on a budget and don’t mind the heat. On slightly cooler days you may still want to get out and enjoy some of the outdoor activities around the city, but visiting air-conditions museums and galleries to stay cool is also a great way to spend your time.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair also often takes place in May, which is the biggest literary event in the area and attracts hundreds of authors from all over the world.
Summer begins in Abu Dhabi in June, with the desert heat really kicking in and some of the hottest, driest weather of the year. The average high temperature is 40°C and only tends to drop down to around 25°C, so there’s no escape from the hot weather unless you’re staying somewhere with really good air conditioning.
The average water temperature in Abu Dhabi in June is 31°C, so you won’t have much luck cooling off by taking a dip in the water during the day!
June is part of the tourism low season in Abu Dhabi because of the oppressive heat, but if you can stand 40°C temperatures then you’ll find that many hotel and resort prices are half as cheap as they are in the winter months.
If you can handle the heat you’ll be able to really work on your tan whilst spending time on the beach in June in Abu Dhabi, but otherwise, we recommend planning to spend your time in some of the city’s best air-conditioned attractions. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a popular choice, along with the Qasr al Watan Presidential Palace and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The hot summer weather continues through July in Abu Dhabi, with high temperatures of up to 42°C most days. These can drop down to 28°C, but humidity will be high most of the time and with literally no chance of rain, there’s very little respite from the heat.
The sea along the coast of Abu Dhabi has an average temperature of 32°C in July, which is very pleasant for swimming and will feel a little cooler than the air outdoors!
Because it is the low season for tourism in Abu Dhabi in July, prices for most of the city’s top attractions are significantly reduced which means that you should make the most of visiting places like The Green Planet rainforest biome, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Ferrari World museum and experience.
When it’s a little cooler in the evenings and early mornings, getting out and enjoying some of the street food and markets or fairs around the city is a great way to spend your trip. It’s worth noting that the Muslim festival of Ramadam usually takes place around June and July, which may affect what is open and what is allowed in public during the day.
August is the last month of intensely hot weather in Abu Dhabi, with temperatures reaching their peak and then starting to slowly dip as September approaches. The average daily temperature is still around 42°C, dropping to around 29°C with quite intense humidity at all times of the day.
There’s still practically no chance of rain in Abu Dhabi in August, and sea temperatures remain a toasty 33°C.
The low season for tourism extends into August, so you can expect prices for flights, accommodations and attractions to be low across the city. Again, we recommend that you make the most of the air conditioning inside the shopping malls, museums, galleries and other tourist attractions around the city and only spend time outside in the evenings when the sun has set.
The heat of the summer starts to slowly ebb in Abu Dhabi in September, although the weather stays very dry and humid. The average high temperature during the month is 40°C, tending to fall to about 26°C in the evening and early morning.
The sea temperature around the coast of the seas stays high at an average of 33°C.
It’s the shoulder season for tourism in September, so if you come to Abu Dhabi at this time you can expect to see more people visiting than over the summer, and some hotels and resorts starting to raise their prices again.
If you can handle the heat it’s a great time to extend your summer holiday and hit the beach to get that final bit of tan before the winter, or there are plenty of great things to do in the city like visiting significant attractions or enjoying the water and theme parks.
It’s still hot in Abu Dhabi in October but the weather is slightly more bearable than previous months, making it quite a popular time to visit. It usually gets up to 36°C during the day, with the average temperature falling to 22°C at night which is a pleasant relief after the heat of the day.
You should also be aware that dust storms start to take place in Abu Dhabi in October. These don’t always last for too long but can make symptoms worse for those who suffer from allergies and asthma, which is worth bearing in mind before you book a holiday.
As the last month before the high season for tourism kicks in again in Abu Dhabi, many people come to the city to make the most of the beaches and coastal resorts before they’re totally taken over by visitors from abroad.
The temperature in Abu Dhabi in November becomes a lot more manageable, with average highs of around 31°C. This can drop down to 18°C in the early morning and overnight, which provides a pleasant break from the hot sun.
The chance of rain in Abu Dhabi in November is very small, so you don’t need to worry about packing anything other than suitable warm weather clothes. The sea temperature is a very pleasant 28°C, which is ideal for swimming and other watersports.
It’s the start of the high season for tourism in Abu Dhabi in November, meaning that the beaches and popular attractions are going to start getting packed. If you find a spot on the coast then make the most of it, but it’s also a great time of the year to enjoy trips to the desert or walks through parks and along the promenades by the ocean.
Temperatures in Abu Dhabi in December are much cooler than earlier in the year, which is one of the reasons it’s such a popular time of the year to come to the city. The average high is 26°C and the average low is 15°C, with only 3 days of the month predicted to have any rainfall.
The sea temperature around the coast of Abu Dhabi is 25°C in December, which is brilliant for swimming and snorkelling.
Spending time on the beach is the most popular pastime for visitors to Abu Dhabi in December, along with enjoying experiences out in the desert and making the most of all the dining experiences on offer across the city.
The real highlight at this time of year however is the Yas Marina Grand Prix. It’s one of the highest anticipated events of the F1 season and attracts fans from all over the world to Abu Dhabi on various Grand Prix packages, and is not to be missed if you’re in the city over the weekend that the race takes place.
Whether you decide to brave the heat over the summer and make the most of the reduced, low season prices, or visit when the weather is cooler and there’s much more to see and do, Abu Dhabi is a brilliant part of the world to come on your travels. It’s a city with its own unique culture and atmosphere that offers a brilliant insight into life in the UAE and is perfect for tourists of all ages thanks to the wide range of different attractions and things to do that are on offer.
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