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Abu Dhabi in winter is warm by day and cool at night: from December to February, average highs at Zayed International Airport are 24–26°C and average lows 14–16°C, on the National Center of Meteorology's (NCM) records for 1982 to 2025. January is the coolest month, at 24.4°C by day and 13.6°C at night, and about four-fifths of the year's rain falls between December and March, on only a few days.
These are long-term averages, not a forecast for this winter. The 2026–27 season also has fixed dates to plan a month around: the National Day holiday on 2 and 3 December, the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 3 to 6 December, the school winter break from 14 December to 3 January, and Ramadan, expected from about 8 February 2027.
There is no official start date. On NCM's averages for Zayed International Airport, December, January and February are the three coolest months, with daytime highs of 24.4–26.4°C. November, at 31.1°C, is the warm start of the season and March, at 29.7°C, the warm end. By April the average high is back at 34.7°C.
From May to September the average high stays between 39.4°C and 43.0°C, so for a stay in the cooler months the window runs from November to March. One to three months fits inside it, which suits a monthly booking: most of our serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi have a 30-night minimum stay.
Mild by day and cool at night. On NCM's averages for 1982 to 2025, January reaches 24.4°C at the warmest point of the day and falls to 13.6°C at the coolest, a monthly mean of 19.0°C. December and February are one to two degrees warmer, and average humidity runs from 58% to 67% across the season.
| Month | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) | Monthly mean (°C) | Average rainfall (mm) | Rain days | Average humidity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 31.1 | 19.5 | 25.2 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 62 |
| December | 26.4 | 15.6 | 21.0 | 7.7 | 2.1 | 67 |
| January | 24.4 | 13.6 | 19.0 | 10.4 | 0.8 | 67 |
| February | 26.1 | 14.9 | 20.3 | 16.1 | 3.5 | 64 |
| March | 29.7 | 17.4 | 23.3 | 15.3 | 3.9 | 58 |
Source: NCM Yearly Climate Means, Zayed I.A. station, 1982 to 2025, read on 5 November 2026. Rain days (days with at least 0.2 mm) come from the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) page for Abu Dhabi, which uses older NCM data for 1982 to 1991.
Rain is the exception, not the rule. Of the 62 mm the airport station records in an average year, 49.5 mm falls from December to March, and February is the wettest month at 16.1 mm. Even then, WMO counts no more than four rain days a month, so pack a compact umbrella but don't plan the month around it.
It depends where you are. On NCM's January averages, nights are 18.2°C on the Corniche, 13.6°C at Zayed International Airport and 11.3°C at Al Wathbah, an inland desert station south-east of the city. In the city a light jumper or jacket is enough for the evening; for a night in the desert, take a warm layer.
| NCM station | Setting | Period | January high (°C) | January low (°C) | Lowest in the table, Nov–Mar (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Corniche | Coast, on the island | 2003–2025 | 22.8 | 18.2 | 12.6 (December) |
| Zayed I.A. | Airport, on the mainland | 1982–2025 | 24.4 | 13.6 | 5.4 (February) |
| Al Wathbah 1 | Inland desert | 2003–2025 | 25.0 | 11.3 | 2.9 (December) |
The sea keeps the island mild: in January the Corniche station's nights average 4.6°C warmer than the airport's, and its days 1.6°C cooler. The desert works the other way, with warmer afternoons and colder nights. That matters for two of the season's desert events, the Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, open until midnight or later, and the Liwa International Festival in the Empty Quarter.
Yes, if you don't mind cooler water. Daytime highs average 24–26°C from December to February on NCM's records, and Corniche Beach in the city is open to visitors. NCM publishes no monthly sea-temperature average on its climate pages, so we don't quote one; check its marine forecast on the day before you swim.
Visit Abu Dhabi, the Department of Culture and Tourism's (DCT) visitor site, describes Corniche Beach as 2 km long in three sections: Al Sahil at Gate 4, which is free, and two fenced family beaches at Gates 2 and 3, with showers, changing rooms and cabanas. It lists entry at AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children. If your building has a pool, ask whether it is heated in winter.
The 2026–27 season runs from the Sheikh Zayed Festival, open in Al Wathba from 30 October 2026 to 13 March 2027, through Frieze Abu Dhabi in November, the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from 3 to 6 December and the Liwa International Festival over New Year, to Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) from 10 to 14 January 2027.
| Dates | Event | Where | Dates from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 October 2026 – 13 March 2027 | Sheikh Zayed Festival | Al Wathba | WAM, 29 October 2026 |
| 10 October – 19 December 2026 | Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 | Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Etihad Arena, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| 15 November 2026 – 15 February 2027 | Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial | Sites including Mina Zayed, Souq Al Mina and Saadiyat Island (Al Ain from 23 October) | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Thu 19 – Sun 22 November 2026 | Frieze Abu Dhabi, its first edition | Manarat Al Saadiyat | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Thu 3 – Sun 6 December 2026 | Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; race on Sunday 6 December | Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island | The organiser; formula1.com for the sessions |
| Fri 11 December 2026 – Sat 2 January 2027 | Liwa International Festival | Liwa and Tal Moreeb, Al Dhafra | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Sun 10 – Thu 14 January 2027 | Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) | ADNEC | The organiser; Masdar hosts it |
All dates are as the organisers, WAM or Visit Abu Dhabi published them on 5 November 2026. Programmes change, so check the event's own page again before you book a stay around it.
The UAE's National Day holiday falls on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026, and New Year's Day on Friday 1 January 2027. Schools on the Ministry of Education (MOE) calendar break from Monday 14 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 and return on 4 January. Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on Monday 8 February.
Plan around three fixed weeks If your dates include 2 to 6 December (National Day and the Grand Prix), 14 December to 3 January (school break and New Year) or the start of Ramadan, ask for the total price for your exact dates in writing before you book, and check the minimum stay and deposit on the listing.
Choose by what you will do most days. The Corniche puts the beach and the mildest winter nights on your doorstep, Yas Island is home to Yas Marina Circuit for the Grand Prix, and Al Zahiyah is in the city centre, on the 24-hour A1 bus to the airport. Check the commute to anything you will visit often.
Our guide to getting around Abu Dhabi without a car has the bus, taxi and shuttle fares. On a hotel-apartment bill, Abu Dhabi charges a 4% tourism fee and a 4% municipality fee on the invoice, explained in our Abu Dhabi tourism fee guide.
Staying two or three months? Check how long tourists can stay in the UAE on your passport before you book, and if your parents are joining you for the winter, our guide to the visit visa for parents explains the sponsor rules. You can compare buildings and dates on our Abu Dhabi apartments page.
January. NCM's averages for Zayed International Airport, 1982 to 2025, give a daily high of 24.4°C, a low of 13.6°C and a monthly mean of 19.0°C. The lowest temperature in the station's table is 5.4°C, in February.
Not very. December averages 26.4°C by day and 15.6°C at night at Zayed International Airport, and nights on the Corniche average 20.5°C. A light layer is enough in the city; desert evenings are colder.
A little. Of the 62 mm of rain the airport station records in an average year, 49.5 mm falls from December to March, and WMO counts no more than four rain days a month in that period.
The organiser lists 3 to 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit, including concerts. On formula1.com, practice is on Friday 4 December, qualifying on Saturday 5 December and the race at 17:00 UAE time on Sunday 6 December.
From 30 October 2026 to 13 March 2027 in Al Wathba, open daily from 16:00 until midnight, or 01:00 at weekends and on public holidays, according to WAM's report of 29 October 2026.
From Monday 14 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with schools back on 4 January, on the Ministry of Education calendar for public and private schools. Private schools on Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani curricula set their own dates.
For the coolest weather, January, then February and December. December has the most fixed dates: the National Day holiday on 2 and 3 December, the Grand Prix from 3 to 6 December and the Liwa International Festival from 11 December.
Planning a winter month in Abu Dhabi? Browse our serviced apartments in Abu Dhabi, then send your dates through a listing's Request to Book or WhatsApp our team.
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