Abu Dhabi vs Salalah: which is sunnier?
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates vs 🇴🇲 Oman · 825 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Salalah is the sunnier overall: about 3,585 hours of sunshine a year to Abu Dhabi's 3,431. Salalah has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Abu Dhabi in 2 (5 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 | Salalah | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,431 | 3,585 |
| Sunniest month | February (99/100) | January (100/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 98/100 | 99/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 46/100 | 87/100 |
| Rain / year | 64 mm | 363 mm |
| Warmest sea | 35°C / 95°F | 31°C / 88°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 11 (extreme) |
Abu Dhabi vs Salalah month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Salalah | Abu Dhabi | Salalah | Abu Dhabi | Salalah | Abu Dhabi | Salalah | |
| January | 98 | 100 | 22° | 27° | 11 | 2 | 22° | 26° |
| February | 99 | 99 | 23° | 28° | 5 | 7 | 21° | 27° |
| March | 97 | 94 | 26° | 30° | 13 | 33 | 23° | 28° |
| April | 98 | 89 | 30° | 33° | 6 | 5 | 26° | 29° |
| May | 79 | 81 | 34° | 33° | 3 | 55 | 29° | 31° |
| June | 59 | 88 | 36° | 33° | 3 | 11 | 33° | 31° |
| July | 40 | 85 | 38° | 30° | 1 | 82 | 35° | 27° |
| August | 40 | 89 | 38° | 29° | 1 | 58 | 35° | 25° |
| September | 49 | 83 | 37° | 30° | 5 | 94 | 34° | 27° |
| October | 79 | 100 | 34° | 32° | 1 | 2 | 32° | 28° |
| November | 98 | 98 | 29° | 31° | 6 | 11 | 29° | 29° |
| December | 98 | 99 | 25° | 29° | 9 | 3 | 25° | 26° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Abu Dhabi · Apr Abu Dhabi · May even · Jun Salalah · Jul Salalah · Aug Salalah · Sep Salalah · Oct Salalah · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Abu Dhabi averages 98/100, Salalah 99/100. Salalah is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 25°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Abu Dhabi (average score 91/100 vs 88). Salalah is the warmer, around 32°C daytime highs vs 30°C.
- June–August: Salalah (average score 87/100 vs 46). Abu Dhabi is the warmer, around 37°C daytime highs vs 31°C.
- September–October: Salalah (average score 92/100 vs 64). Abu Dhabi is the warmer, around 36°C daytime highs vs 31°C.
Sea temperature
Abu Dhabi's sea gets warmer: 35°C / 95°F at its peak vs 31°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Abu Dhabi all year, Salalah all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Abu Dhabi weather by month · Salalah weather by month · Best time to visit United Arab Emirates · Best time to visit Oman.
More comparisons: Abu Dhabi vs Dubai · Abu Dhabi vs Sharjah · Abu Dhabi vs Ras Al Khaimah · Salalah vs Muscat/Seeb · Salalah vs Suhar · all head-to-heads