What is the best time to visit Liwa Oasis?

Open climate sources describe the cool months, roughly mid-November to mid-March, as the most comfortable for outdoor activities in the Abu Dhabi region. Liwa-specific data is not published openly, so check the forecast for your dates.

How hot is Liwa in summer?

For the inland Al Dhafra area WeatherSpark gives average highs of 43–44 °C in June to August. Liwa is further inland, so use the National Center of Meteorology forecast for actual conditions.

Does it rain in Liwa?

Rain is rare. Regional sources show a few millimetres a month at most, mainly between December and March.

Is it cold at night in Liwa in winter?

Average lows around 13–15 °C in December to February are given for the inland Al Dhafra station. Desert nights can feel cooler, so a warm layer is sensible.

Best time to visit Liwa Oasis: weather and temperatures by month

Last updated 22 October 2026

Climate sources for the Abu Dhabi region describe a cool season from about December to early March, with daytime highs in the mid-20s °C, and a hot season from about May to mid-September, with highs above 40 °C. Autumn and spring are in between. No open source gives a dedicated monthly table for Liwa itself, so the figures below are regional and should be read as a guide, not a forecast.

Quad riders on a dune above the Liwa festival area, Abu Dhabi — Quad riders on the dunes near Tal Moreeb. Photo: Mega Drive Experience × AMA.

What the data covers (and what it does not)

Liwa Oasis lies in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, on the northern edge of the Rub' al Khali desert. We could not find an open monthly climate table published specifically for Liwa. This page therefore uses two open sources for the wider region: weather2travel.com for Abu Dhabi city (coast) and WeatherSpark for Al Dhafra Air Base (inland, based on 1980–2016 data).

Liwa is further inland than both, so real conditions can differ, especially at night. For the days of your trip, check the forecast of the UAE National Center of Meteorology (ncm.gov.ae).

Average highs and lows by month, Al Dhafra (inland)

Source: WeatherSpark, Al Dhafra Air Base. Converted from °F and rounded to whole °C.

January: high 26 °C, low 13 °C
February: high 27 °C, low 14 °C
March: high 31 °C, low 17 °C
April: high 37 °C, low 21 °C
May: high 41 °C, low 24 °C
June: high 43 °C, low 26 °C
July: high 44 °C, low 29 °C
August: high 43 °C, low 29 °C
September: high 41 °C, low 27 °C
October: high 37 °C, low 22 °C
November: high 32 °C, low 19 °C
December: high 27 °C, low 15 °C

Cool and hot seasons according to the data

WeatherSpark defines the cool season at Al Dhafra as 1 December to 2 March, with average highs below about 29 °C, and the hot season as 8 May to 19 September, with average highs above 40 °C. January is the coldest month and August the hottest.

For Abu Dhabi city, weather2travel lists average highs of 24–26 °C in December to February and 39–41 °C from June to September. It rates heat and humidity as low in December and extreme from May to September.

Rain and wind

Rainfall is light everywhere in the region. WeatherSpark records at most about 13 mm in the wettest month (February) at Al Dhafra, and none from May to August and in October. Weather2travel lists 0–21 mm a month for Abu Dhabi, with the most rain from December to March.

WeatherSpark gives average wind speeds of about 11–15 km/h, highest in March. Wind strength matters in the desert because it affects dust and visibility, so check the day's forecast.

What WeatherSpark's visitor scores suggest

For general outdoor activities WeatherSpark's score is best from mid-November to mid-March, peaking in the third week of December. For hot-weather activities it favours mid-October to late November. These are generic scores for the station, not specific to desert tours.

The Liwa International Festival (11 December 2026 – 2 January 2027) falls inside the period that this data describes as the cool season.

Practical notes for desert trips

In any season the sun is strong, so plan sun protection and water. In the hot months choose early-morning or evening activities. In the cool months, nights are cooler than days by roughly 13 °C according to the monthly figures above, so a warm layer is sensible for evenings. These notes are general and follow from the numbers, not from any one operator's experience.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Liwa Oasis?: Open climate sources describe the cool months, roughly mid-November to mid-March, as the most comfortable for outdoor activities in the Abu Dhabi region. Liwa-specific data is not published openly, so check the forecast for your dates.
How hot is Liwa in summer?: For the inland Al Dhafra area WeatherSpark gives average highs of 43–44 °C in June to August. Liwa is further inland, so use the National Center of Meteorology forecast for actual conditions.
Does it rain in Liwa?: Rain is rare. Regional sources show a few millimetres a month at most, mainly between December and March.
Is it cold at night in Liwa in winter?: Average lows around 13–15 °C in December to February are given for the inland Al Dhafra station. Desert nights can feel cooler, so a warm layer is sensible.