Climate of Dubai

Dubai has a hot desert climate. Dubai has two distinct seasons – winter and summer. Summer in Dubai begins around the last week of April and ends around the first week of October. This period is characterized by extremely hot weather, hot winds and high humidity. Due to the city's close proximity to the sea, the temperatures in Dubai are slightly milder in summer in comparison to other Gulf cities such as Kuwait City and Riyadh. However, this means the city has high humidity which can make the weather extremely unpleasant in summer. Rainfall is scarce during the summer months, but the windy conditions ensure there are frequent dust storms. Temperatures regularly climb above during this period and fall to around overnight. Winter in Dubai begins around the last week of October and lasts until the beginning of April. The winter season has the most pleasant weather, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Most of the precipitation takes place during this season. Strong thunderstorms are not uncommon to the city during this period, this is accompanied by strong north-westerly winds and lower temperatures. Average daytime high during the winter season is around with overnight lows of . Rainfall has been increasing over the past few decades in the city accumulating to more than per year.
The urban heat island effect does have its toll on Dubai as well, for example during the winter months when temperatures regularly fall to around in the outskirts of the city and its suburbs, the temperatures in Central Dubai rarely fall below . This can be clearly seen when comparing weather data from the city's two airports - Dubai International and Dubai World Central. The highest temperature recorded in Dubai is , reached in July 2019, whereas the lowest recorded temperature in Dubai is .
Climate data.
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Seasonal climate.
The climate of Dubai is warm and sunny due to its position near the line of the Tropic of Cancer. During the winter season it has an average daytime temperature of . Nighttime temperatures near the coastline range between to , while in the desert they are with the nights being relatively cool throughout the year. Near coastal areas humidity averages between 50% and 60%. In the summer, the weather in Dubai is very hot and humid, with temperatures exceeding mainly in the months of July and August. The sea temperature could also reach , with humidity averaging over 90%.
Rainfall in Dubai is infrequent and does not last for a long period. It mostly rains during the winter period between November and March in the form of short downpours and an occasional thunderstorm. On average, rain falls only 25 days a year.
February is the wettest month in Dubai with an average of of rain. The weather in Dubai is extremely dry in the month of June with little or no rain; however, heavy rain with thunderstorm can unexpectedly fall on some days in June, despite it is being the driest month in Dubai, with an example being June 21, 2019. March and December also record some amount of rainfall. The rainfall during January, April, July, October and November are about average while the amount of rain in May, August and September are comparatively lower.
The hottest month is August with the average high temperature exceeding . January is the coolest month with the highs of about and lows of about . Dubai tends to be extremely hot and humid in the months of July and August, with temperatures hitting around , and with lows of barely less than , making it the most unpleasant time to visit Dubai. During the months of May, June, September, and October, temperatures are hot, but rather quite bearable, with highs of no more than with lows of about on average, making it an ideal time to visit the beach or swimming pool.
Climatic conditions by month.
In January the average maximum daytime temperature in Dubai is . The average rainfall is 10 mm (0.4 inches) of, with rain generally falling on just two days of the month. While the average sea temperature in January is . January is also known for having days of unusual precipitation events . On January 15, 2008, of rain was recorded in 24 hours.
In February the average maximum daytime temperature in Dubai is . The average rainfall is during February. While the average sea temperature is .
In March the average temperature is , with moderate heat and humidity. The average rainfall is during March, with rain generally falling on just four days of the month. While the average sea temperature is . Strong thunderstorms often hit the city during this month, which if followed by an increase in temperatures.
In April the average daytime temperature is , with high heat and humidity. The average rainfall is with rain generally falling on just two days of the month. The average sea temperature in April is .
In May the average temperature is , with very high heat and humidity. The average rainfall is during May, with rain generally falling on just one day of the month. The average sea temperature is .
In June the average temperature is , with very high heat and humidity. The average rainfall is less than during June, with a possible chance of rainfall that could be expected to fall on one of the days of the month. The average sea temperature in June is .
In July the average temperature is extremely high with extreme heat and humidity. The average rainfall is about during July, with rain occasionally falling on just one of the days of the month. The average sea temperature in the month of July is . Strong thunderstorms often quickly develop during these summer months and hit the outskirts of the city in areas such as DWC Airport, Al Lisaili, Lahbab, Al Khawaneej, Al Awir and Muhaisnah areas, especially during the late afternoon.
In August the average temperature is extremely high , with extreme heat and humidity. The average rainfall is less than during August, with a possible chance of rainfall that could be expected to fall on one of the days of the month. The average sea temperature in August is .
In September the average temperature is , with very high heat and humidity. There is very little chance of any rainfall during September. Average sea temperature in September is .
In October the average temperature is , with high heat and humidity. The average sea temperature around Dubai Airport in October is .
In November the average temperature is , with moderate heat and humidity. On average only of rainfall may occur in November. Average sea temperature in November is .
In December the average temperature is , cool to warm with high humidity. The average rainfall during the month is . With rain generally falling on just 2 days of the month. The average sea temperature in December is .
Sandstorms and Extreme Events.
During the summer season, a low pressure area develops over Dubai forcing strong north-westerly winds to blow from Saudi Arabia. These winds, also known as Shamal (north) in Arabic, become gusty and unpredictable on reaching Dubai. Shamal boosts up the desert sand and reduce visibility and the dust storm sandstorms may last for several days. Notable sandstorms that hit Dubai during the last few years include: