On the cooler side.
January in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Abu Dhabi.
Among the wetter months.
Shorter days.
Close to the yearly wind average.
UV is gentler than usual.
The muggiest month of the year.
Monthly climate breakdown
A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for January.
Thermal profile
Temperature
Typical daytime high
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Light window
Sunshine
10.8 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 6
- Typical sun hours
- 07:06 - 17:55
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 2 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 31%
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
66%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through January in Abu Dhabi. Based on a 30-year historical climate baseline, not a forecast.
Primary control
Select a day
Scroll to compare daily conditions. The summary updates with your selection.
Secondary context
Monthly trend
Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.
Day 15 selected for January. Temperature 22.1°C.
Historical disruption baseline
Typical disruptions in January
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in January.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~34mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~34mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Show all disruptions (13 more)
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~71km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~36mm (P95)
Why this matters
Heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.1 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.1 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~34mm (P95)
Why this matters
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 26% of days (8.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~26% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~59km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Gusty conditions are possible on ~8 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 16% of days (4.9 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
4.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~16% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~94% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 12% of days (3.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
3.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~12% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~12mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 7% of days (2.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~7% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~33km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Breezy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 7% of days (2.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.1 days / month
- Share of days
- ~7% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~18h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 6% of days (2.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.0 days / month
- Share of days
- ~6% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~86% (P95)
Why this matters
High humidity is possible on ~2 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 6% of days (1.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~6% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~98% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 4% of days (1.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~19h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~19°C (P95)
Why this matters
Humid conditions are possible on ~0 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is January a good time to visit Abu Dhabi?
Typical January days in Abu Dhabi reach highs of 23°C (73°F) with nights around 16°C (61°F). It usually feels warm by day and mild after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in January?
Daytime temperatures in January typically peak near 23°C (73°F), while nights drop to around 16°C (61°F). Expect warm afternoons and mild evenings.
How much does it rain in January?
Rainfall in January averages 10 mm (0.39 in) across roughly 2 days. Overall it is a mostly dry time of year, so showers are usually brief rather than all-day downpours.
How many hours of daylight are there in January?
You can expect about 11 hours of daylight in January. Sunrise is typically around 07:06 and sunset near 17:55. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in January?
UV levels are moderate (around 6); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in January?
In January, average wind speeds are around 15 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 48 km/h (30 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.