Abu Dhabi weather in December
December in Abu Dhabi: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#3 of 12 months in Abu Dhabi · #249 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 86/100 (tier A)
- Days
- 26°C
- Nights
- 19°C
- Wet days
- 1
- Sun
- 9.5 h
- Humidity
- 66%
- Daylight
- 11 h

Traveller notes on Abu Dhabi in December
December here is what regulars call barbecue and sunbathing weather, with the odd short shower in recent years and nothing more. They give the month's span as 14 to 25C; our averages sit at the top of it, 25.9C by day and 19.4C at night, because the Gulf holds the nights up in a way the desert behind the city does not. Rain is 3.8mm on less than a day. Their one caveat is the water: pools are fine and several hotels heat theirs, while the sea at 24.9C strikes some visitors as chilly and others as ideal - it depends entirely on where you have come from. A 19.6 kph wind makes the corniche pleasant rather than still. The record: humidity 66 percent, 9.5 hours of sun and AQI 91.
Other months in Abu Dhabi
Regulars call this genuinely one of the better months, sunny and warm in the mid-30s Celsius, with the oppressive summer humidity not yet in the picture - a meaningfully more tolerable heat than the July-August stretch even at a similar temperature. Our row backs the dry-leaning heat, 31.8C reading as a hot 33C, over 23.4C nights, with rain almost entirely absent, 11.1mm across under a day, and humidity down to 56 percent. Regulars are honest an occasional day can still push into the 40s, but most fall comfortably in the mid-to-high 30s, with sunscreen and sun protection the standard practical advice regardless of the exact number. The sea offers relief at a warm 25.5C. The record: 11.2 hours of sun, a 24.2 kph wind and AQI 116.
November to March is the window regulars here recommend and March is the last of it: sunny, warm, almost no rain, and - the part that matters - not yet humid, which is what makes the summer here unbearable rather than the temperature. Our row gives 28C reading as 29C at 62 percent humidity with 12.7mm of rain across 1.2 days. On the beach question they are moderate and so is our column: the sea at 24.1C is neither too warm nor too cold, and people swim. The breeze is constant at 24.5 kph. April onwards the humidity climbs and the window closes. The record: 20.3C nights, 10.5 hours of sun and AQI 88.
February in Abu Dhabi is the comfortable end of the year: high 20s by day dropping to around 16C at night, low humidity and a breeze much of the time, with all-day sun and effectively no rain - our row gives 0.9 precipitation days. November to March is the stretch regulars name as the pleasant season, and late February into early March is the part they single out, when it settles into the high 20s and early 30s. Sunscreen is the only real warning attached. The record: 24.6C days, 17.8C nights, 10.1 hours of sun, a 21.2C sea and a 23 kph breeze.
Abu Dhabi forum threads describe January as genuinely lovely weather, with posters citing a comfortable range of roughly 12-25C and midday temperatures often landing around 21-22C - ideal for pools and beaches for many visitors, though a few noted the water itself can feel a little cool without a heated pool. Days were described as reliably sunny, making it a strong month for outdoor activities that would be uncomfortably hot in summer. The consistent takeaway across threads: January is one of the most pleasant stretches of the year here precisely because it sidesteps the extreme heat the city is known for the rest of the year.
Year-round notes are on Abu Dhabi's overview. Add your own note from Abu Dhabi's card on the map.
Abu Dhabi climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Abu Dhabi in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsCruise season at Zayed Port, Sheikh Zayed Festival, Winter break in United Arab Emirates(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Abu Dhabi's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherAbu Dhabi's weather peaks December–February, best around January.
December includes Al Dhafra Festival.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Abu Dhabi in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Cruise season at Zayed Port
15 Oct – 30 Apr · usuallyCrowdedThe terminal takes calls from October, with the heaviest weeks between December and March. On a two-ship day the Grand Mosque and the Louvre queue from opening, and the taxi rank at the corniche empties. Source ↗
- Festival
Al Dhafra Festival
27 Oct – 22 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCamel beauty judging and heritage competitions at Madinat Zayed, three hours out in the Western Region, running from late October into January. The main mazayna days fall in December and justify the drive. Source ↗
- Opening
Sheikh Zayed Festival
1 Nov – 22 Mar · usuallySummer season opensCrowdedThe heritage and culture festival out at Al Wathba runs from the start of November to late March, with country pavilions and fireworks most nights. Its opening is as good a marker as any for when the emirate goes outdoors again. Source ↗
- Hazard
Morning fog season
1 Nov – 15 Mar · usuallyDense fog forms over the flats before dawn through the cool months and shuts lanes of the E11 and the airport approach until mid-morning. It burns off by ten, but an early flight or a desert drive is the thing it catches. Source ↗
- Festival
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3–6 DecMotorsport weekendCrowdedBook earlyThe season finale at Yas Marina, with concerts after each night's running and the island effectively closed to anyone without a ticket. The dearest weekend of the year for a room anywhere in the emirate. Source ↗
- Holiday
UAE National Day
1–3 DecNational holidayCrowdedClosuresPublic holidays on 2 and 3 December with fireworks over the Corniche, air displays and flags on every car. It lands immediately after the Grand Prix, so the first week of December runs hot from end to end. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Abu Dhabi — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Abu Dhabi?
- December in Abu Dhabi: warm, dry — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #3 of 12 months for Abu Dhabi on SeasonMap's comfort score (86/100).
- What is the weather like in Abu Dhabi in December?
- In December, Abu Dhabi averages a daily high of 25.9°C and a low of 19.4°C, with about 3.8 mm of rain over roughly 0.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Abu Dhabi in December?
- Abu Dhabi has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 91 in December.
Within 300 km: Dubai's Global Village season around 10 Oct – 31 May, and Ras Al Khaimah's Jebel Jais outdoor season around 15 Oct – 15 Apr.