May is one of the warmer months of the year in Dubai, with average highs near 29.4°C and lows around 27.5°C (mean 28.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 3 mm of rainfall and 78% relative humidity across the period.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Dubai. Across 45 years of records, the warmest May in Dubai was 2021 — when the month averaged 29.7°C — while the coldest was 1991 at 26.1°C. Typical May days reach 29.4°C with nights near 27.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
May is about average for rainfall in Dubai, averaging 3 mm of rainfall. The wettest May on record was 2017 with 45 mm, while the driest were 2011, 2012 and 2014, among others at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Dubai during May averages 78%. The most humid May was 1988 at 83%, and the least humid were 1992 and 2005 at 73%.
May receives about 7.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Dubai. The sunniest May was 1999 at 7.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984 and 1992 at 6.6.
Average wind speed in Dubai during May is 3.7 m/s. The windiest May was 1991 at 4.9 m/s, while the calmest was 1996 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 27.9°C | 27.9°C | 28.8°C | 28.8°C | 28.9°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | 28.9°C | 29.0°C | 29.8°C | 29.7°C | 29.9°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 26.9°C | 27.0°C | 27.7°C | 27.9°C | 28.0°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 3 mm | 1 mm | 1 mm | 5 mm | 5 mm | +3 mm |
May temperatures in Dubai have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
May has ranged from a record low of 22.9°C (1997) to a record high of 34.9°C (1998).
Rainfall in May is about average for rainfall, averaging 3 mm, with a wettest year of 45 mm.
A good time to visit Dubai
May is a good time to visit Dubai, with days averaging 29.4°C and nights around 27.5°C (mean 28.5°C, close to Dubai's yearly average) and low rainfall. March and January 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 | 30.5°C | 29.5°C | 28.6°C | 33.5°C | 26.6°C | 1 mm | 81% | 4 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2024 | 30.1°C | 29.1°C | 28.1°C | 33.1°C | 23.5°C | 21 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 7 |
| 2023 | 29.4°C | 28.6°C | 27.8°C | 31.3°C | 25.5°C | 1 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2022 | 29.0°C | 28.1°C | 27.1°C | 31.3°C | 25.1°C | 3 mm | 80% | 4.8 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2021 🔥 | 30.7°C | 29.7°C | 28.7°C | 34.2°C | 26.9°C | 2 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2020 | 29.7°C | 28.6°C | 27.4°C | 32.6°C | 25.1°C | 2 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2019 | 28.7°C | 27.9°C | 27.0°C | 31.6°C | 24.4°C | 0 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 7 |
| 2018 | 29.8°C | 28.8°C | 27.7°C | 32.8°C | 26.6°C | 1 mm | 75% | 3.8 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2017 🌧️ | 30.4°C | 29.4°C | 28.4°C | 32.3°C | 27.2°C | 45 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2016 | 29.8°C | 28.9°C | 28.0°C | 31.7°C | 25.4°C | 0 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2015 | 30.6°C | 29.5°C | 28.5°C | 33.9°C | 25.4°C | 1 mm | 74% | 3.6 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2014 | 29.8°C | 29.1°C | 28.4°C | 32.9°C | 26.5°C | 0 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2013 | 28.6°C | 27.7°C | 26.9°C | 33.3°C | 24.9°C | 0 mm | 77% | 4.2 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2012 | 30.1°C | 29.1°C | 28.1°C | 32.3°C | 26.6°C | 0 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2011 | 29.8°C | 28.9°C | 28.1°C | 33.1°C | 25.6°C | 0 mm | 78% | 3.7 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2010 | 29.8°C | 28.8°C | 27.9°C | 32.5°C | 25.9°C | 0 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 7 |
| 2009 | 29.6°C | 28.5°C | 27.4°C | 31.9°C | 24.9°C | 1 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2008 | 30.0°C | 29.1°C | 28.2°C | 32.6°C | 26.1°C | 0 mm | 75% | 3.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2007 | 30.4°C | 29.3°C | 28.2°C | 33.2°C | 26.3°C | 0 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2006 | 29.9°C | 28.9°C | 27.9°C | 32.0°C | 25.7°C | 0 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2005 | 29.3°C | 28.2°C | 27.1°C | 32.9°C | 24.5°C | 0 mm | 73% | 3.3 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2004 | 29.3°C | 28.3°C | 27.2°C | 32.9°C | 26.0°C | 8 mm | 77% | 3.8 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2003 | 29.4°C | 28.4°C | 27.4°C | 32.3°C | 24.8°C | 0 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2002 | 30.1°C | 29.0°C | 28.0°C | 33.0°C | 25.8°C | 0 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2001 | 30.1°C | 29.1°C | 28.1°C | 31.8°C | 26.5°C | 0 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2000 | 29.6°C | 28.8°C | 27.9°C | 31.2°C | 27.2°C | 0 mm | 82% | 4.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1999 | 29.7°C | 28.5°C | 27.3°C | 34.5°C | 25.7°C | 2 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1998 | 30.1°C | 28.9°C | 27.8°C | 34.9°C | 24.7°C | 3 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1997 | 28.5°C | 27.4°C | 26.4°C | 31.3°C | 22.9°C | 0 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 7 |
| 1996 | 30.1°C | 29.0°C | 27.9°C | 33.6°C | 24.6°C | 1 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1995 | 28.8°C | 27.8°C | 26.8°C | 32.2°C | 24.1°C | 0 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1994 | 28.9°C | 28.0°C | 27.1°C | 31.2°C | 25.3°C | 0 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | 6.9 |
| 1993 | 28.7°C | 27.8°C | 26.9°C | 31.1°C | 24.8°C | 0 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1992 | 28.9°C | 27.8°C | 26.8°C | 32.1°C | 24.4°C | 0 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1991 ❄️ | 26.9°C | 26.1°C | 25.4°C | 31.6°C | 23.8°C | 0 mm | 82% | 4.9 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1990 | 29.1°C | 28.1°C | 27.1°C | 33.4°C | 25.5°C | 2 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1989 | 28.1°C | 27.1°C | 26.1°C | 31.9°C | 23.9°C | 7 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1988 | 28.6°C | 27.7°C | 26.8°C | 30.6°C | 24.2°C | 0 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1987 | 30.2°C | 29.2°C | 28.1°C | 33.1°C | 26.0°C | 5 mm | 76% | 3.3 m/s | 7 |
| 1986 | 30.0°C | 28.9°C | 27.8°C | 34.2°C | 25.2°C | 1 mm | 74% | 3.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 1985 | 29.0°C | 28.0°C | 27.1°C | 32.2°C | 24.4°C | 0 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | 7.1 |
| 1984 | 28.3°C | 27.3°C | 26.3°C | 32.3°C | 24.2°C | 0 mm | 76% | 4.3 m/s | 6.6 |
| 1983 | 28.1°C | 27.4°C | 26.6°C | 32.6°C | 24.4°C | 3 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 28.7°C | 27.7°C | 26.8°C | 33.9°C | 23.6°C | 0 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 29.1°C | 28.0°C | 26.9°C | 33.0°C | 25.3°C | 6 mm | 76% | 3.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded May data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in May is around 29.4°C with lows near 27.5°C (mean 28.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
May averages 3 mm of rainfall in Dubai, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 45 mm in 2017.
The hottest May reached 34.9°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to 22.9°C in 1997.
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 28.6°C to 29.9°C and overnight lows from 26.7°C to 28.1°C over the same span.
May is one of the warmer months of the year in Dubai and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 29.4°C daytime highs and 27.5°C at night.
Not quite — May is the 7th coolest month in Dubai, averaging 28.5°C.
For May in Dubai, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 29.4°C and lows of 27.5°C.
Relative humidity in May averages 78% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in May is 3.7 m/s. The windiest May on record averaged 4.9 m/s (1991).
The wettest May on record was 2017 with 45 mm. On average, May sees 3 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 Dubai 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.
