Abu Dhabi vs Ras Al Khaimah: which is sunnier?
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates vs 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · 184 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Abu Dhabi is the sunnier overall: about 3,431 hours of sunshine a year to Ras Al Khaimah's 3,278. Abu Dhabi has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months; the other 4 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,431 | 3,278 |
| Sunniest month | February (99/100) | February (97/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 98/100 | 96/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 46/100 | 20/100 |
| Rain / year | 64 mm | 102 mm |
| Warmest sea | 35°C / 95°F | 35°C / 95°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Abu Dhabi vs Ras Al Khaimah month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah | Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah | Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah | Abu Dhabi | Ras Al Khaimah | |
| January | 98 | 93 | 22° | 24° | 11 | 29 | 22° | 23° |
| February | 99 | 97 | 23° | 26° | 5 | 10 | 21° | 22° |
| March | 97 | 95 | 26° | 30° | 13 | 17 | 23° | 24° |
| April | 98 | 68 | 30° | 35° | 6 | 6 | 26° | 26° |
| May | 79 | 20 | 34° | 40° | 3 | 1 | 29° | 30° |
| June | 59 | 10 | 36° | 41° | 3 | 6 | 33° | 33° |
| July | 40 | 20 | 38° | 40° | 1 | 2 | 35° | 35° |
| August | 40 | 29 | 38° | 39° | 1 | 2 | 35° | 35° |
| September | 49 | 39 | 37° | 38° | 5 | 1 | 34° | 34° |
| October | 79 | 59 | 34° | 36° | 1 | 3 | 32° | 32° |
| November | 98 | 97 | 29° | 30° | 6 | 10 | 29° | 28° |
| December | 98 | 96 | 25° | 26° | 9 | 15 | 25° | 25° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Abu Dhabi · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Abu Dhabi · May Abu Dhabi · Jun Abu Dhabi · Jul Abu Dhabi · Aug Abu Dhabi · Sep Abu Dhabi · Oct Abu Dhabi · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Abu Dhabi averages 98/100, Ras Al Khaimah 96/100. Ras Al Khaimah is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 25°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Abu Dhabi (average score 91/100 vs 61). Ras Al Khaimah is the warmer, around 35°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- June–August: Abu Dhabi (average score 46/100 vs 20). Ras Al Khaimah is the warmer, around 40°C daytime highs vs 37°C.
- September–October: Abu Dhabi (average score 64/100 vs 49). Daytime highs are similar (36°C vs 37°C).
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 35°C / 95°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Abu Dhabi all year, Ras Al Khaimah all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Abu Dhabi weather by month · Ras Al Khaimah weather by month · Best time to visit United Arab Emirates.
More comparisons: Abu Dhabi vs Dubai · Abu Dhabi vs Sharjah · Abu Dhabi vs Salalah · Ras Al Khaimah vs Dubai · Ras Al Khaimah vs Sharjah · Ras Al Khaimah vs Muscat/Seeb · all head-to-heads