Middle East weather month by month — seasonal guide
When should you visit Dubai? When does Doha's humidity peak? Which month suits Luxor? This guide summarises the region's weather month by month — and every city has a detailed normals page for each month.
January
Deep winter: the coolest month everywhere. Perfect in the Gulf (20–25°C days) and Upper Egypt, while Amman and Sana'a can touch freezing at night with rain and highland snow chances.
February
Late winter, still gentle: the Gulf sea is at its coldest but the sun barely quits. Prime season for Nile cruises, Aqaba and Petra; last of the rains over Beirut and Amman.
March
Early spring: rapid warming everywhere with 25–30°C days in the Gulf. The Levant's finest month — though Egypt can catch the dusty khamsin winds.
April
Full spring: arguably the region's best month — warmth without the glare, and the sea starting to warm. The last comfortable window before the Gulf summer, and peak spring diving in the Red Sea.
May
The doorstep of summer: the Gulf passes 40°C and humidity starts climbing; Hajj 2026 falls here, so heat precautions apply. The highlands (Amman, Sana'a, Abha) stay spring-mild.
June
Summer locked in: brutal dry heat in Baghdad, Riyadh and Kuwait (45°C+), suffocating humidity on the coasts. The exception is Salalah, where the cool, misty khareef begins.
July
Peak heat: the harshest month across most of the region — outdoor life shifts to dawn and night. Salalah's green monsoon is in full swing; Abha and Sana'a stay temperate refuges.
August
The peak holds: like July with even steamier coasts; the Gulf sea brushes 35°C. Monsoon showers dot the Yemeni and Asir highlands while Salalah stays green and misty.
September
The first crack in the heat: temperatures ease slowly while coastal humidity lingers. Late in the month opens the Sharm and Hurghada beach season with the sea at its warmest.
October
Golden autumn: ideal weather returns — Gulf days slide from 35°C fast, and the Nile-cruise and desert-camping seasons begin.
November
The best tourism month: pleasantly warm days everywhere and a still-warm sea. Peak season in Dubai and Doha; first winter rains reach Beirut and Amman.
December
Early winter: mild sunny days, cold inland nights. Excellent for Upper Egypt and Aqaba, with building rain over the Levant and northern Iraq.
Normals computed from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis archive (2015–2024).