Your May weather guide
HotWeather in Dubai in May
Dubai in May suits travellers who want reliably hot, dry weather and are happy to plan around the heat. Average daytime highs are around 39°C, nights stay near 24°C, and the sea is about 29°C. That makes swimming appealing, but spending the whole day outdoors is a less comfortable prospect. Go if you enjoy serious heat and can take indoor breaks; choose another month if walking around comfortably is central to your holiday.
Long-term climate averages for Dubai, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Dubai, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Dubai.
- Average daytime high
- 39.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 43°C
- Average night-time low
- 24.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 21°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +22.6°C
- London averages 16.6°C in May
- Sea temperature
- 28.9°C
- year to year: 28°C to 30°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 11.7h
- 89% of 13.2 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 0
- 0 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 44%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- 100% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 45.8°C
- 2009-05-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 17.0°C
- 2015-05-02
- Flight from London
- ≈ 7 h 36 min
- 5483 km, long-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How May compares
May is the 5th warmest month of the year in Dubai and ranks 1st of 134 destinations we compare for May - see where else is hot in May. Within United Arab Emirates it is 1st of 2 (United Arab Emirates in May). Against London's average high of 16.6°C in May, Dubai is 22.6°C warmer by day and 15.7°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in May
The typical May day in Dubai peaks at 39.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 42.6°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C and almost every pass 30°C. Nights average 24.0°C; one night in ten drops to 21.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day here reached 45.8°C (2009-05-30) and the coldest night 17.0°C (2015-05-02).
Rain in May
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 0 days with 1 mm or more, 0 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest May was 2012 with 1 mm, the driest 1991 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 44%.
Sea temperature in May
The sea averages 28.9°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 27.7°C to 29.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (33.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 11.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.2 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:34 and sets about 18:56 local time in mid-May. Average cloud cover is 11%.
Is May a good time to visit Dubai?
It is a reasonable choice: hot days - though the heat can be intense at midday. The best months for Dubai on our scoring are November, December, February; months averaging 25°C or more: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
Plan your day around the heat
The biggest adjustment from the UK is the intensity of the daytime heat: London's May high averages about 17°C, compared with Dubai's 39°C. Hotter days can reach around 43°C or more, so the average is not a ceiling. Keep outdoor plans flexible, favour mornings and evenings, and leave the hottest part of the day for time indoors. Loose, lightweight clothing, a sunhat and regular drinks are practical essentials rather than optional extras. Evenings offer some relief, but average lows of 24°C mean they are still warm. This is a better fit for travellers comfortable with heat than for anyone wanting long, leisurely walks through the middle of the day.
Warm swimming weather, with little chance of rain
The sea is comfortably warm for swimming at about 29°C, though it may feel less refreshing than you would hope after time in the sun. Rain is unlikely to disrupt your plans, so your main weather concern is managing sun and heat rather than finding something to do during showers. With about 11.7 hours of sunshine a day, shade and sun protection deserve a place in your daily routine. Keep swims and time by the water to the more comfortable parts of the day rather than treating dry weather as a reason to stay outside continuously. May works well if swimming matters more to you than mild outdoor temperatures.
A little perspective
Dubai through the year
May is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.0°C | 13.7°C | 22.0°C | 7.3 | 17 | 2 | 36% |
| Februarybest | 25.9°C | 14.6°C | 21.3°C | 8.3 | 13 | 2 | 57% |
| March | 29.2°C | 16.9°C | 22.6°C | 8.3 | 17 | 2 | 84% |
| April | 34.4°C | 20.3°C | 25.3°C | 9.4 | 5 | 1 | 98% |
| MaySelected | 39.2°C | 24.0°C | 28.9°C | 11.7 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| June | 41.4°C | 26.2°C | 31.7°C | 12.8 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| July | 42.4°C | 28.8°C | 33.0°C | 10.9 | 3 | 0 | 100% |
| August | 42.6°C | 29.1°C | 33.4°C | 10.8 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| September | 40.3°C | 26.3°C | 32.8°C | 11.3 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| October | 36.4°C | 22.9°C | 31.0°C | 10.5 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Novemberbest | 30.7°C | 19.0°C | 27.9°C | 9.0 | 3 | 1 | 99% |
| Decemberbest | 26.2°C | 15.5°C | 24.4°C | 7.8 | 7 | 1 | 68% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in May
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Egypt · 35°C by day · sea 25°C
Sharm El Sheikh
India · 33°C by day · sea 30°C
Goa
Mexico · 32°C by day · sea 26°C
Puerto Vallarta
Thailand · 33°C by day
Chiang Mai
Thailand · 33°C by day · sea 31°C
Bangkok
A little more detail
Dubai in May FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Dubai hot in May?
Dubai is hot in May: the average daytime high is 39.2°C and nights average 24.0°C. About 100% of May days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Dubai in May?
The sea around Dubai averages 28.9°C in May, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 28°C to 30°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Dubai in May?
Dubai sees about 0 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 0 mm of rain in a typical May. The wettest May between 1991 and 2020 was 2012 (1 mm) and the driest was 1991 (0 mm).
How sunny is Dubai in May?
Dubai gets around 11.7 hours of sunshine a day in May out of 13.2 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Dubai compare with the UK in May?
Dubai is on average 22.6°C warmer than London by day in May (39.2°C against 16.6°C).
What is the hottest May on record in Dubai?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest May day in Dubai reached 45.8°C on 2009-05-30, and the coldest night dropped to 17.0°C on 2015-05-02.
Will I need warm clothes for evenings?
Heavy evening layers are unlikely to be useful outdoors, with average night lows around 24°C. Even the cooler nights can stay near 21°C. Lightweight clothes are the sensible starting point, rather than the layers you might pack for a UK May evening.
Which months should I consider instead of May?
November, December and February are better overall weather choices for Dubai. May is hot and dry, so it makes sense if heat is part of the appeal. If that sounds tiring rather than enjoyable, start with those alternative months.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Dubai. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 10 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C