January is one of the cooler months of the year in Abu Dhabi, with average highs near 22.5°C and lows around 17.9°C (mean 20.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 15 mm of rainfall and 65% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Abu Dhabi. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Abu Dhabi was 2024 — when the month averaged 22.2°C — while the coldest was 1992 at 18.3°C. Typical January days reach 22.5°C with nights near 17.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Abu Dhabi, averaging 15 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1996 with 84 mm, while the driest were 2013, 2018 and 2019, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Abu Dhabi during January averages 65%. The most humid January was 1998 at 71%, and the least humid was 2006 at 60%.
January receives about 4.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Abu Dhabi. The sunniest Januarys were 2001, 2010 and 2021 at 4.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 3.4.
Average wind speed in Abu Dhabi during January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1989 and 1992 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 2010 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 19.7°C | 20.2°C | 20.0°C | 20.5°C | 20.8°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 22.0°C | 22.4°C | 22.3°C | 22.9°C | 23.2°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 17.4°C | 18.0°C | 17.7°C | 18.1°C | 18.5°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 4 mm | 30 mm | 14 mm | 5 mm | 21 mm | +17 mm |
January temperatures in Abu Dhabi have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of 13.4°C (1992) to a record high of 29°C (1991).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 15 mm, with a wettest year of 84 mm.
One of the best times to visit Abu Dhabi
January is one of the best times to visit Abu Dhabi. Expect days averaging 22.5°C and nights around 17.9°C (mean 20.2°C) — cooler than Abu Dhabi's yearly average — with low rainfall (15 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.6°C | 20.5°C | 18.3°C | 24.8°C | 14.9°C | 1 mm | 65% | 3.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2024 🔥 | 24.6°C | 22.2°C | 19.8°C | 27.1°C | 17.3°C | 1 mm | 64% | 3.3 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2023 | 22.9°C | 20.7°C | 18.5°C | 27.5°C | 15.8°C | 41 mm | 70% | 3.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2022 | 23.1°C | 20.9°C | 18.8°C | 26.3°C | 16.6°C | 41 mm | 68% | 4.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2021 | 23.2°C | 20.6°C | 17.9°C | 26.4°C | 13.9°C | 1 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2020 | 22.6°C | 20.2°C | 17.8°C | 27.5°C | 14.1°C | 43 mm | 63% | 3.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2019 | 24.2°C | 21.6°C | 18.9°C | 27.4°C | 17.4°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2018 | 22.3°C | 20.1°C | 17.9°C | 26.4°C | 16.4°C | 0 mm | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2017 | 23.7°C | 21.4°C | 19.1°C | 26.5°C | 16.6°C | 3 mm | 66% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2016 | 22.4°C | 20.2°C | 17.9°C | 26.8°C | 15.8°C | 18 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2015 | 23.1°C | 20.6°C | 18.1°C | 27.2°C | 16.4°C | 8 mm | 64% | 3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2014 | 21.8°C | 19.3°C | 16.8°C | 25.0°C | 14.7°C | 8 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2013 | 23.1°C | 20.5°C | 17.9°C | 26.7°C | 15.4°C | 0 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2012 | 22.4°C | 19.8°C | 17.2°C | 27.5°C | 15.1°C | 0 mm | 63% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2011 | 23.0°C | 20.8°C | 18.6°C | 26.2°C | 17.1°C | 12 mm | 68% | 3.4 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2010 | 22.8°C | 20.5°C | 18.1°C | 27.2°C | 16.9°C | 2 mm | 66% | 2.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2009 | 21.1°C | 19.0°C | 17.0°C | 26.0°C | 14.4°C | 8 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2008 | 21.3°C | 19.2°C | 17.1°C | 25.9°C | 14.7°C | 56 mm | 68% | 3.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2007 | 21.2°C | 18.9°C | 16.7°C | 25.1°C | 15.2°C | 3 mm | 67% | 3.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2006 | 22.4°C | 19.9°C | 17.4°C | 26.8°C | 15.4°C | 3 mm | 60% | 4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2005 | 21.8°C | 19.5°C | 17.2°C | 25.3°C | 15.7°C | 28 mm | 66% | 3.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2004 | 23.9°C | 21.5°C | 19.0°C | 27.1°C | 17.2°C | 16 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2003 | 22.5°C | 20.1°C | 17.7°C | 26.2°C | 15.7°C | 9 mm | 66% | 3.2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2002 | 23.6°C | 21.4°C | 19.1°C | 27.8°C | 17.0°C | 10 mm | 61% | 3.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2001 | 21.8°C | 19.5°C | 17.3°C | 24.4°C | 14.2°C | 5 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2000 | 23.7°C | 21.2°C | 18.8°C | 26.5°C | 17.0°C | 1 mm | 66% | 3.6 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1999 | 24.0°C | 21.7°C | 19.4°C | 28.1°C | 16.6°C | 5 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1998 | 21.5°C | 19.7°C | 17.8°C | 26.2°C | 15.3°C | 69 mm | 71% | 3.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1997 | 22.2°C | 19.9°C | 17.6°C | 25.0°C | 14.8°C | 56 mm | 66% | 3.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1996 🌧️ | 22.3°C | 20.1°C | 17.9°C | 25.7°C | 14.9°C | 84 mm | 70% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1995 | 22.8°C | 20.5°C | 18.1°C | 25.4°C | 16.8°C | 38 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 23.8°C | 21.4°C | 18.9°C | 28.0°C | 16.4°C | 1 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1993 | 21.9°C | 19.8°C | 17.6°C | 26.9°C | 15.3°C | 1 mm | 68% | 3.9 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 ❄️ | 20.4°C | 18.3°C | 16.2°C | 25.3°C | 13.4°C | 23 mm | 66% | 4.3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1991 | 23.9°C | 21.4°C | 18.9°C | 29.0°C | 14.8°C | 3 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 21.2°C | 19.2°C | 17.2°C | 25.2°C | 15.1°C | 20 mm | 67% | 3.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1989 | 20.4°C | 18.4°C | 16.3°C | 23.7°C | 15.1°C | 0 mm | 65% | 4.3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1988 | 22.0°C | 19.8°C | 17.7°C | 26.0°C | 15.9°C | 2 mm | 64% | 3.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1987 | 22.3°C | 19.9°C | 17.5°C | 26.3°C | 15.9°C | 1 mm | 66% | 3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1986 | 21.7°C | 19.4°C | 17.1°C | 24.8°C | 14.6°C | 2 mm | 64% | 2.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1985 | 23.5°C | 21.1°C | 18.7°C | 27.1°C | 16.7°C | 3 mm | 70% | 3 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 21.7°C | 19.6°C | 17.4°C | 24.5°C | 15.6°C | 3 mm | 62% | 3.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1983 | 20.9°C | 18.6°C | 16.3°C | 24.5°C | 14.6°C | 10 mm | 66% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 21.7°C | 19.6°C | 17.5°C | 26.4°C | 15.4°C | 11 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 23.9°C | 21.0°C | 18.0°C | 28.3°C | 15.4°C | 4 mm | 61% | 3.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 22.5°C with lows near 17.9°C (mean 20.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 15 mm of rainfall in Abu Dhabi, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 84 mm in 1996.
The hottest January reached 29°C in 1991. The coldest dipped to 13.4°C in 1992.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.3°C to 23.3°C and overnight lows from 17.6°C to 18.7°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Abu Dhabi and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 22.5°C daytime highs and 17.9°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Abu Dhabi, averaging 20.2°C.
For January in Abu Dhabi, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.5°C and lows of 17.9°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 65% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.3 m/s (1989).
The wettest January on record was 1996 with 84 mm. On average, January sees 15 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Abu Dhabi behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
