Muscat – Oman experienced its hottest recorded maximum average temperature in last five years in 2025, according to new climate data published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The mean maximum temperature across the sultanate reached 34.1°C, a notable climb from 32.9°C in 2024 and well above the 32.8°C readings of both 2023 and 2022. Supplemented by nationwide ground-station data, the figures paint a picture of intensifying heat across the country.

The interior governorates bore the brunt of the heat. Dhahirah recorded a peak monthly average of 38.4°C in July, while Buraimi hit 38.1°C — the highest governorate-level readings nationwide. The capital fared comparatively milder, with Muscat logging a July average of 35.9°C. Even the southern governorate of Dhofar, typically moderated by the khareef monsoon season, saw July readings of 28.3°C.

Early summer start

Nationwide monthly data for 2025 shows temperatures crossing the 30°C average mark as early as April (31.4°C) and remaining elevated through October (29.5°C). August was the hottest month at 34.4°C average, consistent with historical seasonal patterns, while January was the coolest at 18.7°C. Crucially, the trajectory from 2016 to 2025 shows a clear upward drift in mean maximum temperatures — from 31.2°C in 2016 to the current peak of 34.1°C.

Despite the higher temperatures, Oman’s mean maximum humidity actually fell significantly in 2025 — declining to 66.4% from 72.0% the previous year. This drier-heat combination has implications for outdoor workers and vulnerable populations across the summer months. Dhofar governorate was the notable exception, registering the highest average humidity among all governorates at 95%, driven by the khareef season that annually transforms its coastal mountains into a cool, misty landscape.

Rainfall down 79%

The most striking figure in the NCSI data is the dramatic drop in annual rainfall. Total precipitation across the sultanate plummeted to just 414.2mm in 2025, compared to 1,974.1mm the previous year — a fall of 79%. The wettest month was August, when 168.6mm fell nationally, consistent with late-summer convective storm activity. January was the driest month, recording a mere 0.2mm.

At the governorate level, Musandam recorded the highest rainfall of any region in December 2025, with Khasab Port station logging 97mm in that single month — a reflection of the northernmost governorate’s exposure to winter Mediterranean weather systems.

Monthly wind speed data shows relatively stable conditions throughout the year, ranging from 4.9 knots in November to 8.5 knots in August, indicating that changes in temperature and precipitation were driven by broader atmospheric patterns rather than shifts in wind regime.