Following is a United Arab Emirates when to go guide that will help tourists decide an appropriate time to visit this country. As the UAE spans across the Tropic of Cancer, it has a sub tropical arid climate. Although the climate in the UAE is mostly hot, it can be split into summer and winter seasons. Generally, the climate of the UAE is dry and hot, but it does differ from region to region, based on the location.

Summer

The summer months in the UAE stretch from April to September. The weather becomes very hot with temperatures rising to about 50 degrees Celsius during the day. Humidity levels rise to more than 80%, especially in the coastal areas. The months from June to September are the hottest in the UAE. Areas in the interior of UAE are hotter than those on the coast. Sometimes, Sharqi which is a southeastern wind, blows over the UAE during the late summer months. This wind is very humid and makes coastal regions unpleasant. There are also instances of localized thunderstorms that occur during these months.

Winter

Winter months in UAE are from December to March. During these months, daytime temperatures range from 20 to 35 degrees Celsius while the average temperature in the night can drop to about -15 degrees, making it extremely chilly. Daytime temperatures in January and February range from about 10 to 14 degrees Celsius, making them the coldest months in the year. Occasionally, the winter months can also witness short showers. In addition to this, fogs also occur on winter mornings. However, they tend to disappear quickly.

Rainfall

The rainfall in the UAE is erratic and limited. The annual precipitation here ranges from 25 mm to about 925 mm (1 to 5 inches). February and March are considered to be the wettest months in the UAE. However, mountainous areas in UAE receive much more rainfall compared to other parts, usually measuring up to 13 to 14 inches. The coastal regions witness short torrential bursts of rain occasionally during the summer months. This sometimes results in floods in dry ordinary wadi beds.

During early summer and mid winter, winds known as Shamal, which mean "norther" in Arabic blow from the northwest and north, bringing a large amount of dust. Occasionally, sandstorms also blow from the desert. The coastal regions are also prone to violent dust storms that can reduce visibility to a great extent. The UAE has experienced snow only on two occasions at the Jebel Jais Mountain range, situated in Ras al-Khaimah.