01Verdict
When to go, in short
Dubai's year splits into a glorious outdoor season from November to March and a summer from May to September that is too hot for anything but malls, hotels and the sea at night. December and January are peak, with the Shopping Festival, New Year fireworks at the Burj Khalifa and the highest rates. October and April are the shoulder months, warm but workable. Summer is extremely hot and humid, with afternoons above 40 °C, yet hotel prices halve and the city's indoor attractions, from Ski Dubai to the Museum of the Future, are built for it.
Ramadan shifts about eleven days earlier each year and changes daytime dining and opening hours whenever it falls; the two Eid holidays bring fireworks and crowded malls. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday afternoon quiet. Rain is rare in every month but can be heavy when it comes, usually between December and March. For the best weather at normal prices, aim for the first half of November or March outside the World Cup week.
02Weather
Dubai weather by month
04Compare
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Daylight | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai in January | 25 °C / 77 °F | 17 °C | 1 | – | 10.7 h | very busy | Good |
| Dubai in February | 26 °C / 80 °F | 18 °C | 2 | – | 11.3 h | very busy | Good |
| Dubai in March | 30 °C / 86 °F | 21 °C | 1 | – | 12.0 h | busy | Good |
| Dubai in April | 34 °C / 94 °F | 25 °C | 1 | – | 12.7 h | busy | Good |
| Dubai in May | 39 °C / 101 °F | 28 °C | 0 | – | 13.4 h | moderate | Good |
| Dubai in June | 41 °C / 107 °F | 31 °C | 0 | – | 13.7 h | quiet | Good |
| Dubai in July | 42 °C / 108 °F | 34 °C | 0 | – | 13.5 h | quiet | Good |
| Dubai in August | 42 °C / 108 °F | 33 °C | 0 | – | 13.0 h | quiet | Good |
| Dubai in September | 40 °C / 105 °F | 31 °C | 0 | – | 12.3 h | moderate | Good |
| Dubai in October | 36 °C / 97 °F | 28 °C | 0 | – | 11.6 h | busy | Good |
| Dubai in November | 32 °C / 89 °F | 23 °C | 1 | – | 10.9 h | very busy | Mixed |
| Dubai in December | 27 °C / 81 °F | 20 °C | 2 | – | 10.6 h | very busy | Good |
08Pick a month