Winter in the UAE will formally end on March 20, when the spring equinox signals the astronomical start of the new season, according to a report by Gulf News.
The date is based on global astronomical markers rather than regional weather patterns, which often shift earlier due to the UAE’s climate and changing air masses.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, explained that winter begins astronomically with the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky. This year, the solstice occurred on December 21 at 7.03pm UAE time.
Astronomically, the winter solstice happens when the sun appears directly above the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere, resulting in the shortest day and longest night in the northern hemisphere. In the UAE, daylight at the start of winter drops to around 10 hours and 32 minutes between sunrise and sunset, before gradually increasing again as the season progresses.
The spring equinox, set for March 20, occurs when the sun crosses the equator and day and night become equal in length. After that point, the sun shifts northward and daylight continues to increase.
Despite the astronomical timeline, meteorologists often define winter differently in the region. Weather experts generally consider winter to begin in early December, when cooler air masses start dominating, while the coldest stretch across the Arabian Peninsula typically falls between mid-December and mid-February.
During the peak of the season, minimum temperatures in coastal parts of the UAE frequently dip below 15°C, while inland desert and mountainous areas can record lows below 10°C. Some parts of the wider Arabian Peninsula may experience temperatures below 5°C, with near-freezing conditions possible at higher elevations.
The early part of winter is also linked to the “Marba’iniya,” a 40-day period recognised in parts of the Levant and Iraq as the coldest phase of the season.
Seasonal conditions in the Gulf are further shaped by active northerly and north-westerly winds, particularly from January through February, which can trigger dust, rough seas, and abrupt temperature fluctuations.
As February advances, temperatures begin to climb steadily. Average winter temperatures in the UAE typically range from lows of about 12°C and highs near 25°C early in the season, rising to around 15°C to 28°C by mid-winter. By the final weeks, readings commonly reach 18°C to 32°C.
Spring conditions in the UAE can begin mildly, with minimum temperatures around 18°C and daytime highs near 32°C. However, temperatures often rise quickly, reaching 21°C to 38°C by mid-season and climbing further toward the end of spring, when highs may reach 41°C.
Spring is also associated with shifting wind patterns and weather disturbances locally referred to as “Sarayat,” which can bring thunderstorms and rainfall. Gulf News reported that spring rainfall accounts for roughly 12 per cent of the UAE’s annual total.
Other seasonal features include more noticeable land and sea breezes due to stronger temperature differences between land and water, along with occasional dusty conditions caused by north-westerly winds known locally as “Al Arba’een Al Shamaliyah.”
The report also noted that the tropical weather season in the northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea typically begins in early May and lasts until mid-July, peaking in June, with more than 25 tropical cyclones recorded in the Arabian Sea over the past 50 years.
