May is one of the warmer months of the year in Abu Dhabi, with average highs near 34.4°C and lows around 27°C (mean 30.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 2 mm of rainfall and 60% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Abu Dhabi. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Abu Dhabi was 2012 — when the month averaged 32.1°C — while the coldest was 1991 at 27.7°C. Typical May days reach 34.4°C with nights near 27°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Abu Dhabi, averaging 2 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2017 with 49 mm, while the driest were 2013, 2014 and 2019, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Abu Dhabi during May averages 60%. The most humid May was 1988 at 67%, and the least humid was 2015 at 53%.
May receives about 7.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Abu Dhabi. The sunniest Mays were 1988 and 2000 at 7.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984, 1992 and 2018 at 6.7.
Average wind speed in Abu Dhabi during May is 3.3 m/s. The windiest May was 2022 at 4.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1996 at 2.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 30.0°C | 30.1°C | 31.1°C | 31.2°C | 31.1°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 33.7°C | 33.9°C | 34.9°C | 34.7°C | 34.7°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 26.4°C | 26.4°C | 27.3°C | 27.6°C | 27.4°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 3 mm | 0 mm | 0 mm | 5 mm | 4 mm | +1 mm |
May temperatures in Abu Dhabi have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 22.1°C (1982) to a record high of 41.1°C (2021).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 2 mm, with a wettest year of 49 mm.
A good time to visit Abu Dhabi
May is a good time to visit Abu Dhabi, with days averaging 34.4°C and nights around 27°C (mean 30.7°C, warmer than Abu Dhabi's yearly average) and low rainfall. December and March are marginally more temperate, but May still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35.6°C | 31.8°C | 28.0°C | 40.1°C | 26.1°C | 0 mm | 61% | 3.6 m/s | 7 |
| 2024 | 34.8°C | 31.2°C | 27.6°C | 39.1°C | 24.9°C | 17 mm | 62% | 3.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2023 | 34.0°C | 30.6°C | 27.3°C | 37.5°C | 23.2°C | 1 mm | 59% | 3.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2022 | 33.2°C | 29.8°C | 26.4°C | 39.1°C | 24.5°C | 2 mm | 65% | 4.5 m/s | 7 |
| 2021 | 35.8°C | 31.9°C | 27.9°C | 41.1°C | 25.7°C | 1 mm | 60% | 2.8 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2020 | 34.8°C | 31.1°C | 27.3°C | 38.7°C | 24.4°C | 2 mm | 61% | 3.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2019 | 33.9°C | 30.3°C | 26.7°C | 39.0°C | 23.3°C | 0 mm | 60% | 3.2 m/s | 7 |
| 2018 | 35.0°C | 31.4°C | 27.7°C | 39.1°C | 26.2°C | 1 mm | 58% | 3.3 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2017 🌧️ | 35.0°C | 31.3°C | 27.6°C | 38.3°C | 24.9°C | 49 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2016 | 34.6°C | 31.1°C | 27.5°C | 38.5°C | 24.1°C | 0 mm | 59% | 3.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2015 | 35.7°C | 31.9°C | 28.1°C | 40.4°C | 24.1°C | 1 mm | 53% | 3.1 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2014 | 34.7°C | 31.2°C | 27.7°C | 37.7°C | 24.9°C | 0 mm | 58% | 3.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2013 | 33.1°C | 29.8°C | 26.4°C | 39.0°C | 24.5°C | 0 mm | 59% | 3.3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2012 🔥 | 35.9°C | 32.1°C | 28.2°C | 39.9°C | 25.7°C | 0 mm | 54% | 3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2011 | 34.6°C | 31.2°C | 27.8°C | 39.1°C | 24.4°C | 0 mm | 60% | 3.4 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2010 | 34.7°C | 31.3°C | 27.9°C | 38.7°C | 25.8°C | 1 mm | 56% | 3.1 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2009 | 35.0°C | 31.1°C | 27.3°C | 40.7°C | 24.2°C | 1 mm | 60% | 3.4 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2008 | 35.3°C | 31.6°C | 27.9°C | 38.5°C | 25.0°C | 0 mm | 55% | 2.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2007 | 35.6°C | 31.7°C | 27.8°C | 39.8°C | 25.5°C | 0 mm | 59% | 2.8 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2006 | 34.6°C | 31.0°C | 27.3°C | 37.7°C | 25.4°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3.2 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2005 | 34.6°C | 30.8°C | 27.0°C | 39.0°C | 23.1°C | 0 mm | 53% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2004 | 34.4°C | 30.5°C | 26.7°C | 40.3°C | 24.4°C | 2 mm | 59% | 3.5 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2003 | 34.3°C | 30.6°C | 26.9°C | 37.5°C | 23.8°C | 0 mm | 59% | 3.2 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2002 | 35.6°C | 31.5°C | 27.4°C | 40.3°C | 25.0°C | 0 mm | 60% | 3.2 m/s | 7.6 |
| 2001 | 35.4°C | 31.4°C | 27.4°C | 39.1°C | 25.2°C | 1 mm | 59% | 3.5 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2000 | 34.2°C | 30.8°C | 27.3°C | 37.2°C | 25.4°C | 0 mm | 63% | 3.8 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1999 | 34.2°C | 30.4°C | 26.5°C | 39.1°C | 24.0°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3.7 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1998 | 35.4°C | 31.4°C | 27.4°C | 40.3°C | 23.8°C | 1 mm | 57% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1997 | 33.3°C | 29.7°C | 26.1°C | 38.0°C | 22.5°C | 0 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1996 | 35.5°C | 31.5°C | 27.4°C | 40.1°C | 23.5°C | 1 mm | 55% | 2.6 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1995 | 33.8°C | 29.9°C | 26.0°C | 39.1°C | 22.4°C | 0 mm | 59% | 3.3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1994 | 33.9°C | 30.3°C | 26.7°C | 39.5°C | 24.1°C | 0 mm | 63% | 3.5 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1993 | 33.4°C | 29.8°C | 26.2°C | 38.5°C | 23.2°C | 0 mm | 60% | 3.5 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1992 | 34.4°C | 30.5°C | 26.6°C | 39.0°C | 24.7°C | 0 mm | 55% | 2.8 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1991 ❄️ | 30.9°C | 27.7°C | 24.5°C | 38.6°C | 22.6°C | 0 mm | 62% | 3.9 m/s | 7 |
| 1990 | 33.9°C | 30.2°C | 26.4°C | 39.8°C | 24.9°C | 0 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1989 | 33.0°C | 29.2°C | 25.3°C | 36.8°C | 22.8°C | 0 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1988 | 33.1°C | 29.6°C | 26.1°C | 36.5°C | 23.0°C | 0 mm | 67% | 3.5 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1987 | 35.3°C | 31.3°C | 27.4°C | 39.6°C | 24.1°C | 2 mm | 57% | 3 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1986 | 35.2°C | 31.2°C | 27.2°C | 39.8°C | 24.9°C | 3 mm | 57% | 3.1 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1985 | 33.3°C | 30.0°C | 26.6°C | 38.3°C | 23.1°C | 2 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1984 | 32.9°C | 29.5°C | 26.1°C | 37.1°C | 23.7°C | 0 mm | 58% | 3.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1983 | 33.5°C | 30.1°C | 26.8°C | 38.8°C | 23.3°C | 5 mm | 60% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 33.0°C | 29.4°C | 25.7°C | 37.8°C | 22.1°C | 0 mm | 63% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 33.8°C | 29.9°C | 26.0°C | 40.5°C | 23.6°C | 14 mm | 63% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 34.4°C with lows near 27°C (mean 30.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 2 mm of rainfall in Abu Dhabi, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 49 mm in 2017.
The hottest May reached 41.1°C in 2021. The coldest dipped to 22.1°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average May temperatures have risen by about 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 33.3°C to 34.7°C and overnight lows from 26.2°C to 27.4°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Abu Dhabi and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 34.4°C daytime highs and 27°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 7th coolest month in Abu Dhabi, averaging 30.7°C.
For May in Abu Dhabi, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 34.4°C and lows of 27°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 60% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.3 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.5 m/s (2022).
The wettest May on record was 2017 with 49 mm. On average, May sees 2 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 May, 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 May specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
