Sitting on the trendy Persian Gulf, Dubai is a city that has so effortlessly blended tradition, think souks with smells of spices, creeks bobbing with dhows, and the Burj Khalifa: the world’s tallest building.
As well as an unparalleled coastline, luxury resorts, and limitless culinary delights, the city offers awe-inspiring views and sunshine all year round. The best time to visit Dubai really depends on how hot you like your sun and what you would like to do on your holiday.
Dubai winter: November – February
Why visit Dubai in the winter
The weather is ideal for sightseeing, with average temperatures ranging from 77 to 86 degrees during the day, with nights cooling down to a balmy 60 degrees. The sea may be a little chilly but most hotel pools are heated. It is also the peak tourist season, so there is a lot going on.
It’s a great time to try a desert safari
This is the best time to enjoy a real desert experience as the nights are still warm and the days pleasant. The vast stretches of undulating sand provide the perfect backdrop to any picture. Excursions range from a morning desert safari to an overnight stay in the desert, but the evening desert safari offers everything you can get out of such an experience. Nothing really beats the view of the sun dipping behind a sand dune as it makes its last journey of the day.
Enhance your experience with a camel ride or if you prefer a faster pace, nothing is as exhilarating as riding a quad bike over a sand dune. And as the sun disappears and the sky is littered with stars, there follows an array of entertainment from belly dancing to fire shows over traditional Arabic foods. There are several companies as well as private drivers who offer this experience, so choose carefully.
Go shopping at Dubai Creek
The pleasant weather is also the perfect opportunity to explore Dubai’s traditional side. Where better to do this than at Dubai Creek? The natural waterfront area is thought to have been the first major port of the Emirates and is surrounded by heritage buildings and traditional souks. You can catch a glimpse of traditional desert homes in the Al Fahidi historic district or various exotic birds, including flamingos, at the Ras Al Khor wetlands.
Try your bargaining skills at the old souks. They’re filled with the heady smells of spices mixed in with perfume and are lit with lamps at night. You can even take a traditional wooden dhow down the water. There are opportunities to dine by the water, the best being The Dubai Golf Club platform on the water and the floating restaurant which opens its doors at 07:00 hrs to 10:30 hrs.
Best events during Dubai winter
Dubai Shopping Festival
If you are after a bargain, January is the perfect time for you to visit Dubai. It’s when the Dubai Shopping Festival is held: an event where you can grab yourself a bargain, from designer gear and jewelry to electronics and much more.
Dubai Desert Classic
If you’re a golf fan then head to the Emirates Golf Club to see the world’s best golfers in action in January. Despite its location, it’s actually part of the European Tour. When it was founded in 1989, it was the first ever event to be staged in the Arabian Peninsula. Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia have previously lifted the winner’s trophy.
Dubai Tennis Championships
Grab tickets to one of the ATP tour’s most eagerly anticipated events. There are separate competitions for men and women held at the end of February. Previous winners include Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams.
The Dubai Marathon
It’s much easier to enter this than the Boston or London one, so dig out your running shoes and prepare for a grueling race around the city. You’ll pass skyscrapers and beaches along the way as you hot foot it around the city. You’ll be ready for your holiday at the end of it!
Dubai Spring: March – May
Why visit Dubai in the spring
While you’re unlikely to see blossoms and hear twittering birds, you will get an average of eight hours of sunshine a day, giving you lots of time for sightseeing and exploring.
If you’re after a beach holiday, April is the perfect month when the average temperature is between 70-73 and there is only a very low chance of rain. The sea temperature gets to around 77 degrees, making a dip into the rolling waves a rather enjoyable experience. May tends to be a lot quieter, too, so you won’t be rushing out of bed to grab a sun lounger.
Book your stay with a hotel that has a private beach, but don’t worry if you can’t – Dubai has many beaches to go around. The pristine Al Mamzar Beach offers five white sand beaches for sunbathing and swimming for a small fee, while sporty Kite Beach with its beach side cafes is perfect for those looking for water sports.
Float in the clouds in a hot air balloon
See Dubai from a different perspective by rising 4000ft above the Arabian desert in a hot air balloon. You’ll have a 360-degree views as you float above the Dubai Desert Conservation Zone with views of the Hajar mountains.
Explore Hatta
Enjoy a day trip or perhaps even a two-day visit to Hatta, which is located on the edge of Dubai in the mountains. It’s a great place to try a variety of activities, including hiking, canoeing and mountain biking.
Best events during Dubai spring
The Dubai Gold Cup
The pinnacle of the UAE horse-racing season, and also one of the top racing events globally, the Dubai Gold Cup is held at the Meydan Racecourse annually on the last Saturday of March. It’s a hugely popular event, so get your tickets well in advance.
Dubai International Boat Show
The Dubai International Boat Show, a show-ground of the world’s most innovative boats and futuristic water sports gadgets, takes place around March in Dubai every year at the Dubai Harbour. Why not time your beach holiday with this jaw-dropping exhibition? See how the other half live on Superyacht Avenue or discover the latest in diving and aquatic innovations. It is quintessential in luxury and lifestyle.
World Art Dubai
Whether you are a collector or just enjoy art, World Art Dubai is the place to be. WAD is a melting pot of emerging artists, pop-art icons, experimental expressionists, fine art and photography. This unique fusion of art (over 4000 pieces) and entertainment takes place annually around March. Enjoy live mural graffiti exhibitions, Vogue ballroom battles, and live DJs at an art exhibition like no other.
Dubai Summer: June – September
The summer months in Dubai start in June through to August when the days grow longer (10 to 12 hours on average) and the mercury gets hotter. The average temperature in the day can easily reach 100 degrees.
Why visit Dubai in the summer?
While it’s hot, hot, hot, you do have the benefit of the city being much quieter in terms of visitors. It’s also the perfect time to bag yourself a bargain holiday. The temperatures are a lot cooler in the early mornings and evenings, so there are opportunities for outdoor activities too.
Theme Parks are great fun
This is the perfect time to enjoy a family holiday at the various themed parks in Dubai. The IMG Worlds of Adventure is a temperature-controlled theme park with over 20 rides and attractions, plus an entire area dedicated to the Jurassic era. It is suitable for all ages, too. Little ones can join in on the adventures of their favorite cartoon character, while teens can tackle The Velociraptor: one of Dubai’s tallest and fastest roller coaster rides.
The park opens every day from 12:00-22:00 hrs Monday to Thursday and 12:00-23:00 hrs Friday to Sunday.
Have an Aquaventure at the Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm
Book into the Atlantis, The Palm, and you won’t need to leave the resort for anything during your stay. The Aquaventure Waterpark at the Atlantis, The Palm is the world’s largest water park and provides an enjoyable way to cool off in Dubai in the hot summer months. Spread over 42 acres, the park has dozens of water rides and slides to splash around. It is more than a water park, though, as it also offers a private beach and plenty of pools to lounge around. Why not go on safari at the Shark Lagoon where you will be surrounded by sharks and rays and hundreds of other marine animals?
The park opens daily from 10:00 hrs to 17:30 hrs.
Catch epic views from Burj Khalifa
In a city with big everything, it’s only right to visit the world’s tallest building. The Burj Khalifa is 163 storys tall. Of course, you can visit it any time of the year but summer is probably the quietest time, so you can easily get a ticket. The best viewing time from the top is at sunset. Grab yourself a glass of champagne and watch the magic as the rays hit the wall to ceiling glass windows and reflect the Persian Gulf; it truly is magical.
Hollywood star Tom Cruise famously scaled the side of the building when performing stunts for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. Rather him than us!
Best events during Dubai summer
Dubai’s Summer Surprises
From the start of July until the beginning of September, many of the Dubai Mall’s retail outlets offer slashed prices. There is also live entertainment, kids activities and a raffle. It’s a great place to be to escape the heat.
Hotels, entertainment complexes and restaurants across the city also have great deals on offer for a ten-week period.
September – October: Dubai fall
Fall in Dubai starts in September when the weather is still quite hot. It starts getting cooler towards October when the winter season starts. The average temperatures range from about 100 degrees at midday to 80 degrees towards the end of October.
Why visit Dubai in the fall
Similar to the spring, it’s a lovely time to visit with long sunny days and balmy evenings. You’ll be able to have plenty of time by the pool or on the beach and it’s usually a quieter time to visit as children will have returned to school.
Check out the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
Located in Dubai’s shopping mall, the aquarium is a great place to spend a few hours. There are more than 140 species and 400 sharks. The 10-million-liter tank on the ground floor of the shopping center is one of the largest suspended aquariums in the world. There is also a huge underwater tunnel which is especially great fun for kids.
Best events during Dubai fall
Rampage Time Trail
If you’re a cycling fanatic, you can take part in the Return to Racing’s Rampage Time Trial at the Al Qudra cycle track. Participants are timed on how quickly they can complete the nine mile loop around the track. There are separate events for men and women.
DP World Tour Championship
Another key golf event in the city see the world’s Top 60 players compete in the final European Tour event of the year.
It takes place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in November.
What to pack for a holiday in Dubai
In general, pack light and comfortable clothes as the weather is usually quite warm. Do, however, carry a cardigan or light jacket for the evenings when the temperatures tend to dip. Most of the buildings in Dubai are also heavily air-conditioned, so the layers may come in handy. Remember, Dubai is a glamorous city, too. Pack something to glam up in!
Don’t forget that Dubai is a Muslim country, so women may be required to wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees outside your resort. Desert trips are best suited to light travel clothes.
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