Can you tan in Egypt in winter?

The Red Sea resorts are dry, clear and close to the tropics, so the winter sun has real strength. UV by month and burn times by skin type.

By the Sunkat team · Updated 27 October 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Short answer: yes. On a clear day Egypt's midday UV is about 6 in November, 5 in December, 5 in January and 7 in February, roughly what London gets between late April and May. Fair skin can start to redden after about 33 minutes at a December midday, and the sun is much stronger from April to September, when the UV index reaches 13.

UV index in Egypt by month

Clear-sky UV index at midday near Hurghada on the Red Sea (Sharm el-Sheikh is almost identical), with how long fair (type II) and medium (type III) skin take to start reddening without sunscreen at that peak. Peak months for Egypt visitors are highlighted: November 6, December 5, January 5, February 7, March 9, April 12.

Month	Midday UV clear sky	Fair skin first redness	Medium skin first redness	Typical cloud cover
January	5 moderate	33 min	40 min	7%
February	7 high	23 min	28 min	7%
March	9 very high	18 min	22 min	4%
April	12 extreme	13 min	16 min	9%
May	13 extreme	12 min	15 min	1%
June	13 extreme	12 min	15 min	0%
July	13 extreme	12 min	15 min	0%
August	12 extreme	13 min	16 min	0%
September	10 very high	16 min	20 min	0%
October	8 very high	20 min	25 min	0%
November	6 high	27 min	33 min	6%
December	5 moderate	33 min	40 min	15%

Midday UV is modelled from the sun's height and typical ozone for Egypt (Madronich 2007), rounded. Haze and cloud make many real days 1 to 2 points lower. Cloud cover is the median for each month in 2023 to 2025 (Open-Meteo). Over the year the clear-sky peak runs from 5 to 13.

Almost never cloudy

Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh get very few cloudy days, so the clear-sky UV in the table is what you will actually get most days. That makes the winter numbers more reliable here than in the Canary Islands.

Snorkelling and boat days

Most bad burns on Red Sea holidays happen in the water. Your back and the backs of your legs face the sun the whole time, the surface reflects extra UV, and about 40% of UV still reaches half a metre down (WHO). A rash vest or T-shirt is the easiest fix.

Spring and summer

By April the clear-sky midday UV is 12, and from May to August it is 13. Fair skin can start to redden in under 15 minutes around midday.

Frequently asked

Can you tan in Egypt in December?

Yes. Hurghada's clear-sky midday UV is about 5 in December, and it is rarely cloudy, so most days count.

Can you tan in Egypt in January?

Yes. The midday UV is about 5. Fair skin can start to redden after about 33 minutes at midday without sunscreen.

Can you get sunburnt snorkelling?

Yes, very easily. Water only offers minimal protection and reflects UV onto your back. Wear a rash vest or T-shirt and reapply water-resistant sunscreen after each swim.