Monthly climate guide

Dubai in May

In Dubai, May sits in late spring, a shoulder-season month where the conditions can shift as the season turns. Most afternoons run very hot in direct sun, with evenings that can feel like a different gear. You get long daylight windows for full-day exploring. Comfort is usually predictable, so a standard day plan works well.

Annual ranking snapshot

Ranked across 12 months

May in context

How it compares to the rest of the year in Dubai.

Hottest (avg)
IN-BETWEEN
#5 / 12

Sits around the middle of the year.

Wettest (avg)
DRIER
#10 / 12

One of the drier months.

Daylight Hours
LONGER
#3 / 12

Long daylight hours.

Windiest (avg)
WIND
#1 / 12

The breeziest month of the year.

Highest UV
UV
#3 / 12

UV runs high compared with most months.

Most Humid
HUMID
#12 / 12

One of the less humid months.

Climate normals

Four planning pillars

Monthly climate breakdown

A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for May.

Thermal profile

Temperature

Typical daytime high

Nighttime low
Feels like (avg)

Light window

Sunshine

13.4 h

Average daylight

UV index (max)
9
Typical sun hours
05:34 - 18:56

Wet-day pattern

Rain & Snow

Typical rainfall

Rainy days
0 days
Cloud cover (avg)
11%

Air feel

Humidity & Wind

45%

Average humidity

Wind (avg)
Wind (max gusts)

Historical daily baseline

Daily climate explorer

Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through May in Dubai. 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

Day 15 selected

Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.

Daily climate explorer for MayMonthly trend chart for the selected climate metric, with the chosen day marked.2030405011631°C
Median temperatureMedian lowTypical range

Day 15 selected for May. Temperature 39.3°C.

Historical disruption baseline

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 100% of days (31.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

31.0 days / month

Share of days
~100% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~43°C (P95)
Why this matters

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 96% of days (29.9 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

29.9 days / month

Share of days
~96% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~44°C (P95)
Why this matters

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 days Measures: Very hot days (>=35C). Observed about 90% of days (27.8 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

27.8 days / month

Share of days
~90% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~43°C (P95)
Why this matters

Very hot days are possible on ~28 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 89% of days (27.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

27.5 days / month

Share of days
~89% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~44°C (P95)
Why this matters

Very hot feels-like conditions are possible on ~28 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.

Heat High impact

Extreme heat days Measures: Extreme heat days (>=40C). Observed about 47% of days (14.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

14.5 days / month

Share of days
~47% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~44°C (P95)
Why this matters

Extreme heat is possible on ~14 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 28% of days (8.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

8.6 days / month

Share of days
~28% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~45°C (P95)
Why this matters

Heat stress is possible on ~9 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.

Show all disruptions (13 more)
Heat High impact

Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 1.0 days/month in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

1.0 days / month

Share of days
Upper edge
Up to ~43°C (P95)
Why this matters

Heatwave runs are possible on ~1 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 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

0.6 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~72km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Humidity Moderate

Muggy days Measures: Muggy days (dew point >=20C). Observed about 8% of days (2.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

2.6 days / month

Share of days
~8% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~23°C (P95)
Why this matters

Muggy conditions are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

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.

Likely frequency

1.4 days / month

Share of days
Upper edge
Up to ~42°C (P95)
Why this matters

Feels-like 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 84% of days (26.0 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

26.0 days / month

Share of days
~84% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~28°C (P95)
Why this matters

Warm nights are possible on ~26 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Wind Minor

Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 63% of days (19.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

19.6 days / month

Share of days
~63% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~57km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Gusty conditions are possible on ~20 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Heat Minor

Hot nights Measures: Hot nights (min >=25C). Observed about 38% of days (11.7 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

11.7 days / month

Share of days
~38% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~29°C (P95)
Why this matters

Hot nights are possible on ~12 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.

Humidity Minor

Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 30% of days (9.2 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

9.2 days / month

Share of days
~30% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~22°C (P95)
Why this matters

Humid conditions are possible on ~9 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.

Cloud Minor

Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

1.5 days / month

Share of days
~5% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~96% (P95)
Why this matters

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.

Likely frequency

0.7 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~96% (P95)
Why this matters

Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Wind Minor

Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in May. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

Likely frequency

0.6 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~31km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Rain Minor

Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in May. 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 ~5.2mm (P95)
Why this matters

Measurable rain is possible on ~1 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 (0.2 days/month) in May. 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 ~97% (P95)
Why this matters

Overcast skies are possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Travel planning FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.

Is May a good time to visit Dubai?

Typical May days in Dubai reach highs of 39°C (102°F) with nights around 24°C (75°F). It usually feels very hot by day and warm after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.

What are temperatures like in May?

Daytime temperatures in May typically peak near 39°C (102°F), while nights drop to around 24°C (75°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 05:34 and sunset near 18:56. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.

How strong is the sun in May?

UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 9), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.

Is it windy in May?

In May, average wind speeds are around 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 52 km/h (32 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.

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