Spring is defined by the moment when the Sun is positioned directly above the equator.
Dubai: Winter in the UAE will officially end on March 20, when the spring equinox signals the astronomical start of the new season. However, many residents may notice warmer temperatures setting in weeks earlier.
The difference between global scientific definitions of the seasons and regional climate patterns helps explain why the UAE’s cooler months often seem to arrive and depart on their own schedule.
The start of winter
According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, winter in the UAE begins astronomically with the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky.
This year, the winter solstice occurred on December 21 at 7:03pm UAE time. The season will continue until the Sun crosses the equator again on March 20, marking the arrival of spring.
Astronomically, winter begins when the Sun is positioned directly above the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. This marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the UAE, daylight hours at the start of winter drop to about 10 hours and 32 minutes between sunrise and sunset. From that point onward, daylight gradually increases until day and night are equal again at the spring equinox.
However, in practical terms, seasonal change in the region is influenced more by climate than by astronomy. Meteorologists generally consider winter to begin in early December, when temperatures drop and cooler air masses prevail. Across the Arabian Peninsula, the coldest period typically lasts from mid-December to mid-February.
During this period, minimum temperatures in coastal areas often fall below 15°C, while inland desert and mountainous regions can record lows under 10°C. In some parts of the wider Arabian Peninsula, temperatures may drop below 5°C and even approach freezing at higher elevations.
The early weeks of winter are also linked to what is known in parts of the Levant and Iraq as the “Marba’iniya” — a 40-day stretch traditionally regarded as the coldest phase of the season.
Across the Gulf region, strong northerly and north-westerly winds tend to intensify from January through February, at times bringing dust, rough seas and sudden shifts in temperature.
Climbing temperatures
As February advances, temperatures begin to rise steadily. In the UAE, average winter temperatures range from lows of around 12°C and highs near 25°C at the start of the season, increasing to roughly 15°C to 28°C by mid-season. By winter’s end, temperatures typically reach between 18°C and 32°C.
Spring, which begins astronomically on March 20, is marked by the Sun appearing directly above the equator. At this point, day and night are equal in length. From then on, the Sun moves northwards and daylight hours continue to increase. Between late April and August, the Sun is positioned more directly over the southern Arabian Peninsula, reaching its northernmost point at the summer solstice in June.
In the UAE, early spring is generally mild, with minimum temperatures around 18°C and highs near 32°C. By mid-season, temperatures can rise to between 21°C and 38°C, climbing further toward the end of spring, when highs may reach 41°C.
The season is also characterised by shifting winds and the potential for spring weather disturbances, locally known as “Sarayat”, which can bring rain and thunderstorms. On average, rainfall during spring accounts for about 12 per cent of the UAE’s annual total.
Other regional weather patterns also emerge during this time. Sea and land breezes become more noticeable as the temperature difference between land and water increases. Strong north-westerly winds, known locally as “Al Arba’een Al Shamaliyah”, may at times carry dust.
Meanwhile, the tropical weather season in the northern Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea typically begins in early May and lasts until mid-July, with activity peaking in June. On average, at least one tropical cyclone develops in the Arabian Sea every three years, and more than 25 such storms have been recorded over the past half century.
