UAE Sea Water Temperature by Month and What Wetsuit to Wear (2026)

Quick answer: UAE sea water averages about 21 to 24C from January to March and 32 to 34C from June to September. For most people that means a 2 mm shorty for winter snorkelling, a 3 to 5 mm full suit for winter scuba, and only a rash guard from May to October. The east coast runs 1 to 2C warmer than the Gulf in winter; the Gulf is the warmer sea in August.

Below: average water temperature by month for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Dibba and Musandam, the wetsuit thickness we suggest for each season and sport, jellyfish notes and how to fit a suit. Every number links to its source at the bottom of the page. You will find all the suits mentioned in our wetsuits collection and summer cover in our rash guards, delivered across the UAE.

In this guide

• UAE sea water temperature by month
• Gulf coast vs east coast vs Musandam
• What wetsuit to wear, by month and activity
• Can you wear a wetsuit in a UAE triathlon?
• Jellyfish and red tide: what to expect
• Wetsuits and rash guards we stock for each season
• How a wetsuit should fit
• FAQs
• Sources

UAE sea water temperature by month

The coldest water is in February (about 21 to 23C) and the warmest in July and August (about 33 to 34C). Figures are average sea surface temperatures in C, with the typical low-to-high range for the month in brackets.

Data: seatemperatu.re monthly averages from previous years' records (the site lists NOAA Coral Reef Watch, World Weather Online and Open-Meteo as its sources), converted by us from Fahrenheit and rounded to the nearest degree. Free to reuse with a credit and a link to this page.

How accurate is this?

Treat it as a planning guide, not a forecast. Satellite datasets measure the surface, and different datasets disagree by a degree or two: Wikipedia's Dubai table, built from seatemperature.org and Weather Atlas, gives 20.6C for February and 32.8C for August, against 22C and 34C here. Lagoons, creeks and shallow beaches can also differ from the open-sea figures.

Gulf coast vs east coast vs Musandam

In winter the east coast is the warmer sea. In summer the Gulf is. That flip is the one thing most people get wrong when they pack.

• January to March: Fujairah and Dibba average 23 to 24C, while Abu Dhabi drops to about 21C in February. If you feel the cold, drive east.
• July and August: Dubai averages 34C and Abu Dhabi 33 to 34C, with highs of 35C. The east coast and Musandam average 32 to 33C. Neither is refreshing, and both are warm enough to swim with no thermal protection at all.
• Musandam tracks the east coast closely, with a slightly wider range in winter (22 to 26C in January and March).

What wetsuit to wear, by month and activity

The thickness you need depends on the water temperature and on how long you stay in. A snorkeller who swims for 30 minutes needs much less than a diver who hangs still at depth for an hour. Rip Curl's thickness chart puts water above about 24C in rash guard or 0 to 1 mm territory and 18 to 24C in 2 mm suits, and adds that wind and session length can shift the answer by a full thickness. PADI's rule of thumb is 3 mm for warm water and 5 mm for temperate water. We applied both to the UAE numbers above.

This table is our recommendation, built on the Rip Curl and PADI guidance and the water temperatures above. If you run cold, go one step thicker; if you run hot, one step thinner.

Why scuba needs more than snorkelling

A diver moves slowly, stays in for 45 minutes or more, and often dives twice. Body heat leaks out steadily even in 24C water, which is why PADI starts at 3 mm for warm water. Neoprene also compresses at depth, so a suit insulates less on the bottom than it does at the surface.

Why kiters need more than swimmers

Wind on wet skin cools you far faster than still water. On a breezy January day at Kite Beach the water may be 22C but your body feels the wind, which is why we suggest a full 3/2 suit in mid-winter even though a swimmer would be fine in a shorty.

Can you wear a wetsuit in a UAE triathlon?

Rarely. Under World Triathlon age-group rules, as summarised by The Triathlete, wetsuits are forbidden at 22.0C and above for swims up to 1,500 m (age groups under 60) and at 24.6C and above for longer swims and for athletes aged 60 and over. Below 15.9C they are mandatory. With Gulf water averaging 21 to 23C from January to March and 25C or more from April to December, a wetsuit is only likely to be legal in a winter race, and organisers decide on the morning from the measured water temperature. Always check the race's own rules, because some events use different cut-offs.

Train in a sleeveless or thin suit if you want to, but plan to race without one for most of the year. Good race-day skin options are a fitted rash guard or tri suit.

Jellyfish and red tide: what to expect

Jellyfish turn up every year, and the timing depends on the species and the coast. A thin full suit or lycra skin is the simplest protection.

• Dubai: blue blubber jellyfish usually appear in April and May and nettle jellyfish in September and October, according to Gulf News reporting with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group in 2018, when hundreds washed up on Jumeirah Open Beach.
• Abu Dhabi: the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi says jellyfish tend to appear as the water warms in summer and decline as it cools. The most common are moon jellyfish and blue blubber jellyfish. Its advice: keep your distance, and see a doctor if stung, especially if you have allergies.
• Ras Al Khaimah: Khaleej Times reported large numbers from February to the end of April on beaches from Shaam to Al Hamra in 2019.

Red tide (algal bloom): we could not find a reliable season for it. It is irregular: the major 2008 bloom was first reported in August and lasted for months, killing fish and coral along the east coast (The National), and Khalifa University reported another bloom off Fujairah in 2018. If you are driving to the east coast to dive, check recent reports first.

Wetsuits and rash guards we stock for each season

These are the suits we would reach for in each column of the table. Prices change, so the live cards on this page show the current AED price and stock.

Winter scuba on the Gulf: Mares Rover 5 mm

The Mares Rover Overall Hoodless 5 mm is a dive-centre style full suit with an extra-long front zip, which makes it easy to get in and out of between dives, and superstretch neoprene in the arms. Pick it for January and February dives off Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Too warm from April on.

Winter on the east coast, spring and autumn everywhere: Mares Reef 3 mm

The Mares Reef 3 mm is a one-piece 3 mm suit with a soft, stretchy chest panel. It is the one suit that covers the most UAE diving: winter in Fujairah and Musandam, and April and November on both coasts.

Warm-water diving and long snorkels: Mares Switch 2.5 mm

The Mares Switch 2.5 mm uses ultrastretch neoprene with a front zip and grip panels on the cuffs. Good for May and October dives and for snorkellers who want full-length cover in winter.

Winter snorkelling: Mares Manta shorty and steamer

The Mares Manta Shorty 2.2 mm is a short-sleeve snorkel suit with a back zip, the easy choice for December to March. Women who want full length can choose the Mares Manta Steamer Lady, also 2.2 mm and shaped for the female form.

Winter kite and wing: Follow P1 3/2 mm

The Follow P1 3/2 mm steamer has recycled four-way stretch neoprene, fully taped seams and a quick-dry thermal liner for multi-session days. It is the suit for windy January sessions; most riders swap to a shorty by March.

Freediving and spearfishing: Riffe CoviTek 1.5 mm

The Riffe CoviTek Camo 1.5 mm is a one-piece suit in lined Yamamoto neoprene with knee pads and a cushioned chest pad for loading a band speargun. 1.5 mm suits the UAE's spring and autumn water. If you spearfish, read our speargun and spearfishing rules guide first.

May to October: a long-sleeve rash guard

From May the water is warm enough that you only need sun and sting protection. The Mares Rashguard Long Sleeve has flatlock seams and works as an undersuit in winter too. For women, the Dynamicnord RG-32 long sleeve is a thin, quick-drying rash guard with UPF 50+.

How a wetsuit should fit

Snug everywhere, with no air pockets, and no pain. A loose suit flushes water through and loses most of its warmth.

• Try it on dry and, if you can, wet. A suit that is baggy when dry stays baggy in the water.
• Check the small of the back and the armpits for gaps that fill with water.
• Full range of motion: raise your arms over your head and squat. For swimming and paddling, the suit must not pull your arms down mid-stroke.
• Seals: collar and cuffs should be snug without cutting in, and zips should run smoothly.
• Seams: flatlock seams are comfortable and fine for warm water; glued and taped seams keep more water out for winter diving.
• After every session: rinse in fresh water, dry in the shade and hang on a wide hanger. UAE sun and salt break neoprene down fast.

Heading out by boat or board? Pair your suit with a proper buoyancy aid from our life jackets guide, and if you are combining a dive trip with a night out, see our UAE camping season guide for the beach and mountain rules.

Sea temperature and wetsuit FAQs

Do you need a wetsuit in Dubai?

Only in winter, and only for longer sessions. From May to October the sea off Dubai averages 29 to 34C, so a rash guard for sun is enough. From December to March it averages 22 to 25C: most swimmers manage without, but snorkellers are comfortable in a 2 mm shorty and divers should wear a 5 mm full suit in January and February.

What is the coldest month for the sea in the UAE?

February. Average sea temperature is about 21C off Abu Dhabi, 22C off Dubai and 23C on the east coast at Fujairah and Dibba, based on seatemperatu.re's monthly averages. January and March are only a degree or so warmer.

What thickness wetsuit for diving in Fujairah?

In winter (December to March, water about 23 to 26C), a 3 mm full suit suits most divers, or 5 mm if you feel the cold or do two dives a day. In April and November a 3 mm suit is comfortable; from May to October a 0.5 to 3 mm suit is plenty, worn mainly for protection.

Is the sea warmer in Dubai or Fujairah?

It depends on the month. From December to April the east coast at Fujairah is warmer by 1 to 2C. From July to September the Gulf is warmer: Dubai averages 34C in July and August against 32 to 33C at Fujairah.

Is a wetsuit allowed in triathlons in the UAE?

Usually not. World Triathlon age-group rules forbid wetsuits when the water is 22.0C or warmer for swims up to 1,500 m and 24.6C or warmer for longer swims. UAE water is above those limits for most of the year, so a wetsuit is only likely to be allowed in a winter race, decided on race morning.

When is jellyfish season in the UAE?

It varies by species and coast. Gulf News reported that blue blubber jellyfish usually appear off Dubai in April and May and nettle jellyfish in September and October, and Khaleej Times reported large numbers in Ras Al Khaimah from February to April. A lycra skin or thin full suit protects against most stings.

Sources

• seatemperatu.re, sea temperature by month: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Dibba Al-Hisn, Khasab (retrieved 19 Oct 2026)
• Wikipedia, Climate of Dubai (sea temperature row from seatemperature.org and Weather Atlas): en.wikipedia.org
• Rip Curl, wetsuit temperature and thickness guide: ripcurl.com
• PADI, wetsuits: padi.com
• The Triathlete, World Triathlon Competition Rules 2026 guide (rule 4.2(a)): thetriathlete.co.uk; official rules: triathlon.org
• Gulf News, jellyfish on Dubai beaches (Sep 2018): gulfnews.com
• Gulf News, EAD jellyfish advice (Oct 2021): gulfnews.com
• Khaleej Times, jellyfish in Ras Al Khaimah (Mar 2019): khaleejtimes.com
• The National, the 2008-09 red tide (Apr 2009): thenationalnews.com
• Khalifa University, algal bloom off Fujairah (Sep 2018): ku.ac.ae

Found a better dataset or a reading that disagrees? Tell us and we will check it and update the table.