If you’ve stumbled upon this page, there’s a high chance you’re experiencing one of Dubai’s ultra-humid days and you’re looking for answers! There’s hot in Dubai, then there’s OMG what happened!
It feels like you’ve immediately stepped out of a sauna; your glasses fog up, condensation on your windows and that feeling of your clothing sticking to your body. There is limited relief anywhere outside in this sort of engulfing heat.
So what exactly causes this? And how often will you experience uncomfortably high humidity in Dubai?
Average humidity in Dubai
Dubai’s average humidity is around 60%. For the most part, it is a more manageable humidity year-round than say living in Singapore or any of the tropicals of south-east Asia.
The winter months in Dubai are actually slightly more humid than the summer, but it’s those searing hot & humid days of summer where heat & humidity combine that are most noticeable and difficult to deal with.
Average temperature and humidity in Dubai
You can learn more about the exact weather, including sea temperatures, rainfall and humidity to expect each month in Dubai here:
- January weather in Dubai
- February weather in Dubai
- March weather in Dubai
- April weather in Dubai
- May weather in Dubai
- June weather in Dubai
- July weather in Dubai
- August weather in Dubai
- September weather in Dubai
- October weather in Dubai
- November weather in Dubai
- December weather in Dubai
Although the numbers don’t seem to say it out loud when you look at Dubai forecasts, as residents we can assure you by far the most uncomfortable time of the year for temperatures & humidity is August & September.
Relief seems to come by mid-October, you will find a significant drop in day time highs and humidity.
Humidity in Dubai explained
Humidity is a measure of how much water vapour is in the air around us. The more moisture in the air, the higher the humidity. This is usually given as a relative humidity number – how much moisture is in the air as a % of the maximum amount of water vapour the air can hold.
How much moisture the air can hold depends on air temperature, hence a percentage is given rather than an absolute number.
Dubai is mistakenly thought of as being a “dry heat” because it’s in the desert but the Arabian Gulf waters are by far the more prevalent force.
The coastal areas of the United Arab Emirates, which includes the city of Dubai are more susceptible to humidity than inland areas such as Al Ain, or the mountainous regions of the Northern Emirates. This is because humidity comes from water evaporating from large bodies of water – in Dubai’s case, the waters from the Arabian Gulf. As air temperatures heat up, so does the sea causing more moisture to evaporate into the atmosphere.
In the cooler months, the higher humidity is what leads to fog which can be particularly prevalent in the early mornings.
Why does the humidity in Dubai make us feel so sweaty?
It comes down to how our bodies can deal with humidity. When humidity is relatively low but the temperature is high, we get hot, and we sweat it out. The moisture evaporates into the air and our own sweat cools us down.
When humidity is high , however, the sweat we create has no where to escape to; evaporation is much slower so it continues to ‘cling’ to us, making us feel much stickier and possibly overheated.
How can you cope with the high relative humidity in Dubai?
The key is to stay hydrated. If possible, avoid going outdoors and only exercise outdoors in high humidity if you understand the dangers involved.
What is humidity in Dubai now?
You can check out the top of our sidebar (on desktop) or on mobile scroll to the bottom of this page now to see the current weather in Dubai. It includes the humidity and the “feels like” temperature which takes into account the wind chill factor and humidity.
So no – you are not imagining it at all! Although the temperatures in Dubai might look pretty consistent from one day to the next you really need to look at the relative humidity and feels like temperature before heading outdoors too.
Be sensible, limit your time outdoors when it’s hot & humid and stay hydrated. And look forward to October!
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
- Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack, and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws, and customs to be aware of.
- Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.
- Pick up a Dubai Pass from iVenture or a Go City Dubai Pass to save up to 50% on top Dubai attractions.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!
- Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai, or bag a bargain on your accommodation here:
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