Abu Dhabi weather in January

In January, Abu Dhabi sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 9 mm of rain across 1.6 wet days and about 10.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 69% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Abu Dhabi's 12th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Abu Dhabi's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
12th warmest
Overnight low
16°
1st coldest
Rainfall
9 mm
1.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
7:13 AM – 5:51 PM
Cloud cover
30%
12th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
4.26 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.8
out of 10

Abu Dhabi is capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

Air quality
Very high
PM2.5 44.4 µg/m³ · 2019
Density
1,859/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month.

A typical January day in Abu Dhabi reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 1°C cooler than February.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12417
22417
32417
42417
52417
62417
72417
82416
92416
102316
112316
122316
132316
142316
152316
162316
172316
182316
192316
202316
212316
222316
232316
242316
252316
262316
272316
282316
292316
302316
312316

How January really feels in Abu Dhabi

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

January sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Abu Dhabi weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan23° / 16°91.610.78.8
Feb25° / 17°91.311.19.1
Mar28° / 19°131.611.87.9
Apr32° / 23°40.512.65.3
May36° / 27°00.113.22.7
Jun38° / 29°0013.51.3
Jul39° / 31°1013.40.4
Aug40° / 32°10.112.90.1
Sep38° / 29°0012.21.4
Oct35° / 26°10.111.43.7
Nov30° / 22°30.710.86.9
Dec26° / 18°5110.58.9

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 69% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 17%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18416
28317
38317
48317
58218
68119
78119
88119
97921
107921
117921
127921
137921
147921
158020
168020
178020
188119
198119
208218
218317
228416
238515
248515
258614
268713
278713
288713
298713
308713
318713

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Abu Dhabi gets around 9 mm of rain over 1.6 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 5% and peaks near 7% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
13
23
33
43
54
64
75
85
95
106
116
126
136
147
157
167
177
187
197
207
216
226
236
245
255
265
275
284
294
304
314

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 47% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13440224
23541214
33541203
43642193
53743182
63843182
73943171
84043161
94143151
104243141
114443140
124542130
134641120
144741120
154940110
165039110
175238100
185238100
195337100
20553690
21553690
22553690
235436100
245436100
255436100
265336110
275336110
285336110
295236120
305236120
315236120

Wind in January

Winds average 14 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:10 AM to 7:10 AM, and sunset from 5:41 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.57:105:41
210.57:115:41
310.57:115:42
410.57:115:43
510.57:115:43
610.57:125:44
710.57:125:45
810.67:125:45
910.67:125:46
1010.67:125:47
1110.67:125:47
1210.67:125:48
1310.67:125:49
1410.67:135:49
1510.67:135:50
1610.67:135:51
1710.77:135:52
1810.77:125:52
1910.77:125:53
2010.77:125:54
2110.77:125:54
2210.77:125:55
2310.77:125:56
2410.77:125:57
2510.87:125:57
2610.87:115:58
2710.87:115:59
2810.87:115:59
2910.87:116:00
3010.87:106:01
3110.97:106:02

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.26 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.1 kWh/m² to a high of 7.6 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 4.26 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.1Bright
24.1Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.1Bright
94.1Bright
104.1Bright
114.1Bright
124.1Bright
134.2Bright
144.2Bright
154.2Bright
164.2Bright
174.2Bright
184.3Bright
194.3Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.4Bright
234.4Bright
244.5Bright
254.5Bright
264.5Bright
274.6Bright
284.6Bright
294.7Bright
304.7Bright
314.7Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Abu Dhabi

In seasonPeak

None of Abu Dhabi's seasonal hazards are active in January. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Abu Dhabi sits in the North Indian Ocean cyclone zone; the season peaks May and October–November.

Abu Dhabi sees seasonal dust haze (March–August), heaviest in July.

Cyclone
Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is January a good time to visit Abu Dhabi?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

8.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
7.1
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

January is one of the better times to visit Abu Dhabi for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Abu Dhabi in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, Abu Dhabi sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 16°C. Worth packing: light clothes.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Abu Dhabi in January

The nearest coast averages about 22°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 19 km away) is warmest in August at about 34°C and coldest in February near 21°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°25°30°35°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan22Refreshing
Feb21Refreshing
Mar22Refreshing
Apr25Warm
May29Tropical
Jun32Tropical
Jul33Tropical
Aug34Tropical
Sep33Tropical
Oct31Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec24Warm

UV index in Abu Dhabi in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Abu Dhabi peaks around May 18 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 5 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highVery highVery highHighMay 18UV 10Dec 16UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb9Very high
Mar8Very high
Apr9Very high
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug10Extreme
Sep8Very high
Oct8Very high
Nov6High
Dec5Moderate

Air quality in Abu Dhabi in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Abu Dhabi is worst in July — around 72 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.7× the cleanest month (November, 26 µg/m³).

Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Abu Dhabi's WHO annual average of 44.4 µg/m³.

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 2271 µg/m³Nov 2326 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan31Moderate
Feb37Poor
Mar44Poor
Apr43Poor
May47Poor
Jun53Poor
Jul72Unhealthy
Aug69Unhealthy
Sep50Poor
Oct35Poor
Nov26Moderate
Dec26Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi sits at 24.5°N, 54.4°E, 6 m above sea level, in United Arab Emirates. The nearest listed city is Musaffah, 13 km away.

Bani Yas CityAl Shamkhah CityJebel AliDubai Investments ParkAl Furjan

Topography around Abu Dhabi

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Abu Dhabi.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Abu Dhabi has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 27 m around an average of 4 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 39 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 167 m.

The land around Abu Dhabi is covered by artificial surfaces (53%) within 3 km, water (57%) and bare terrain (22%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (53%) and water (44%) within 80 km.

3 km
27 m
16 km
39 m
80 km
167 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
January weather nearby: Musaffah 13 km · Mohammed Bin Zayed City 20 km · Khalifah A City 21 km · Bani Yas City 28 km · Al Shamkhah City 32 km · Jebel Ali 94 km · Dubai Investments Park 99 km · Al Furjan 99 km

United Arab Emirates travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 3
Reconsider Travel
Power plugs
Type G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 63% of US
price level, 2024
GDP per capita
$50,274
2024
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
8.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 487

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Abu Dhabi (24.4512°, 54.397°, elevation 6 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).