Dubai vs Ras Al Khaimah: which is sunnier?
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates vs 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates · 70 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,278 vs 3,278 hours a year. Ras Al Khaimah has the higher Sunshine Score in 7 of 12 months; the other 5 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,278 | 3,278 |
| Sunniest month | February (97/100) | February (97/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 97/100 | 96/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 0/100 | 20/100 |
| Rain / year | 94 mm | 102 mm |
| Warmest sea | 35°C / 95°F | 35°C / 95°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Dubai vs Ras Al Khaimah month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai | Ras Al Khaimah | |
| January | 95 | 93 | 25° | 24° | 17 | 29 | 22° | 23° |
| February | 97 | 97 | 27° | 26° | 10 | 10 | 22° | 22° |
| March | 95 | 95 | 31° | 30° | 19 | 17 | 24° | 24° |
| April | 58 | 68 | 36° | 35° | 10 | 6 | 26° | 26° |
| May | 0 | 20 | 42° | 40° | 6 | 1 | 30° | 30° |
| June | 0 | 10 | 44° | 41° | 5 | 6 | 33° | 33° |
| July | 0 | 20 | 45° | 40° | 2 | 2 | 35° | 35° |
| August | 0 | 29 | 45° | 39° | 2 | 2 | 34° | 35° |
| September | 0 | 39 | 42° | 38° | 2 | 1 | 34° | 34° |
| October | 39 | 59 | 38° | 36° | 2 | 3 | 32° | 32° |
| November | 97 | 97 | 32° | 30° | 8 | 10 | 29° | 28° |
| December | 97 | 96 | 27° | 26° | 11 | 15 | 25° | 25° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Ras Al Khaimah · May Ras Al Khaimah · Jun Ras Al Khaimah · Jul Ras Al Khaimah · Aug Ras Al Khaimah · Sep Ras Al Khaimah · Oct Ras Al Khaimah · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Dubai averages 97/100, Ras Al Khaimah 96/100. Daytime highs are similar (28°C vs 27°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Ras Al Khaimah (average score 61/100 vs 51). Daytime highs are similar (36°C vs 35°C).
- June–August: Ras Al Khaimah (average score 20/100 vs 0). Dubai is the warmer, around 45°C daytime highs vs 40°C.
- September–October: Ras Al Khaimah (average score 49/100 vs 20). Dubai is the warmer, around 40°C daytime highs vs 37°C.
Sea temperature
Both seas peak at 35°C / 95°F. Swimmable water (21°C+): Dubai all year, Ras Al Khaimah all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Dubai weather by month · Ras Al Khaimah weather by month · Best time to visit United Arab Emirates.
More comparisons: Dubai vs Abu Dhabi · Dubai vs Sharjah · Dubai vs Hurghada · Ras Al Khaimah vs Abu Dhabi · Ras Al Khaimah vs Sharjah · Ras Al Khaimah vs Muscat/Seeb · all head-to-heads