Avg High
Abu Dhabi in May
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
13h
What to expect
In Abu Dhabi, May sits in late spring, a shoulder-season month where the feel can shift as the season turns. Most afternoons run very hot in direct sun, with evenings that ease back comfortably. You get long daylight windows for full-day exploring. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.
May in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Abu Dhabi.
Hottest (avg)
#5 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#7 / 12
Daylight Hours
#3 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#3 / 12
Highest UV
#3 / 12
Most Humid
#12 / 12
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 13.3 h
- UV index (max)
- 8
- Typical sun hours
- 05:38 - 18:58
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 0 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 11%
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 53%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for May. Typical high 36.2°C and low 26.2°C.
Typical disruptions in May
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in May.
Heat High impact
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 99% of days (30.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
30.8 days / month
~99% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 30.8 days / month
- Probability ~99% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41°C (P95)
Hot days are possible on ~31 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 95% of days (29.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
29.5 days / month
~95% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 29.5 days / month
- Probability ~95% of days
- Intensity Up to ~43°C (P95)
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~30 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Very hot feels-like Measures: Very hot feels-like days (>=35C). Observed about 85% of days (26.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
26.2 days / month
~85% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 26.2 days / month
- Probability ~85% of days
- Intensity Up to ~44°C (P95)
Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~26 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Very hot days Measures: Very hot days (>=35C). Observed about 75% of days (23.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
23.4 days / month
~75% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 23.4 days / month
- Probability ~75% of days
- Intensity Up to ~41°C (P95)
Very hot days are possible on ~23 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat High impact
Heat stress risk Measures: High heat stress days. Observed about 63% of days (19.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
19.6 days / month
~63% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 19.6 days / month
- Probability ~63% of days
- Intensity Up to ~44°C (P95)
Heat stress is possible on ~20 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Humidity High impact
Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 42% of days (13.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.0 days / month
~42% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.0 days / month
- Probability ~42% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24°C (P95)
Muggy conditions are possible on ~13 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (15 more)
Heat High impact
Extreme heat days Measures: Extreme heat days (>=40C). Observed about 10% of days (3.1 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.1 days / month
~10% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.1 days / month
- Probability ~10% of days
- Intensity Up to ~43°C (P95)
Extreme heat is possible on ~3 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.4 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.4 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.4 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heat Moderate
Feels-like heatwave Measures: Feels-like heatwave runs (>=3 days). Observed about 1.4 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.4 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.4 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~42°C (P95)
Feels-like heatwave runs are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Moderate
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 1.1 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~40°C (P95)
Heatwave runs are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Heat Minor
Warm nights Measures: Warm nights (min >=22C). Observed about 93% of days (28.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
28.9 days / month
~93% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 28.9 days / month
- Probability ~93% of days
- Intensity Up to ~30°C (P95)
Warm nights are possible on ~29 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 71% of days (22.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
22.0 days / month
~71% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 22.0 days / month
- Probability ~71% of days
- Intensity Up to ~24°C (P95)
Humid conditions are possible on ~22 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Heat Minor
Hot nights Measures: Hot nights (min >=25C). Observed about 65% of days (20.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
20.2 days / month
~65% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 20.2 days / month
- Probability ~65% of days
- Intensity Up to ~30°C (P95)
Hot nights are possible on ~20 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 45% of days (13.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.9 days / month
~45% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.9 days / month
- Probability ~45% of days
- Intensity Up to ~59km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~14 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 6% of days (1.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.8 days / month
~6% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.8 days / month
- Probability ~6% of days
- Intensity Up to ~34km/h (P95)
Breezy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.6 days / month
~5% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.6 days / month
- Probability ~5% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~97% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
Oppressive humidity Measures: Oppressive humidity days (dew point >=24C). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~25°C (P95)
Oppressive humidity is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~14mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~98% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~11h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Frequently asked questions
Is May a good time to visit Abu Dhabi?
Typical May days in Abu Dhabi reach highs of 37°C (99°F) with nights around 26°C (79°F). It usually feels very hot by day and warm after dark. Overall, May sits in the middle of the Abu Dhabi climate range.
What are temperatures like in May?
Daytime temperatures in May typically peak near 37°C (99°F), while nights drop to around 26°C (79°F). Expect very hot afternoons and warm evenings.
How much does it rain in May?
Rainfall in May averages 1 mm (0.04 in) across roughly 0 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 May?
You can expect about 13 hours of daylight in May. Sunrise is typically around 05:38 and sunset near 18:58. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in May?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 8), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in May?
In May, average wind speeds are around 15 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 50 km/h (31 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.