01Weather
Dubai weather in January
Afternoons in January average 25.2 °C (77 °F) and nights cool to 17.2 °C (63 °F). The month brings about 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain spread over roughly 1 days. Compared with December it is 2.2 °C cooler; February is 1.3 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical January | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 28 °C / 83 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 23 °C / 73 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 15 °C / 58 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.5 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 5 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest January day 2016–2025 | 30.9 °C / 12.7 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 07:04 | 17:41 | 10.6 h |
| 15 January | 07:06 | 17:51 | 10.7 h |
| 31 January | 07:02 | 18:03 | 11.0 h |
Daylight grows by about 24 minutes over the month. Times are local (Asia/Dubai).
03Crowds
How busy Dubai is in January
very busy The main sights are very busy in January. What drives it:
- Dubai Shopping Festival
- ideal weather
- New Year fireworks at Burj Khalifa
05Events
What's on in Dubai in January
Every year in January
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Shopping Festival | December to January, citywide | shopping |
| Dubai Marathon | January | sport |
07Packing
What to pack for Dubai in January
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
January is close to ideal: afternoons around 24 °C, cool evenings and almost no rain, with the Dubai Shopping Festival discounts, fireworks and raffles running through the month and the New Year's Eve fireworks still fresh. It is peak season, so beach hotels charge their highest rates. The Dubai Marathon in January closes roads along the coast for a morning, and the Dubai Desert Classic golf fills the Emirates Golf Club.
The occasional rainy day does happen and briefly floods the roads, because the city has little drainage; it clears within hours. Sea temperatures are the year's lowest at about 21 °C, cool for swimming but fine for the beach. Desert safaris are at their most comfortable, with cold nights in the dunes. The Global Village fair is open daily. February is the most comfortable month of all; see February.
09Compare
Dubai month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25 °C | 17 °C | 1 | – | very busy | Good |
| February | 26 °C | 18 °C | 2 | – | very busy | Good |
| March | 30 °C | 21 °C | 1 | – | busy | Good |
| April | 34 °C | 25 °C | 1 | – | busy | Good |
| May | 39 °C | 28 °C | 0 | – | moderate | Good |
| June | 41 °C | 31 °C | 0 | – | quiet | Good |
| July | 42 °C | 34 °C | 0 | – | quiet | Good |
| August | 42 °C | 33 °C | 0 | – | quiet | Good |
| September | 40 °C | 31 °C | 0 | – | moderate | Good |
| October | 36 °C | 28 °C | 0 | – | busy | Good |
| November | 32 °C | 23 °C | 1 | – | very busy | Mixed |
| December | 27 °C | 20 °C | 2 | – | very busy | Good |
Not sure about January? See the best time to visit Dubai.
10Elsewhere
January in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Budapest in January | 4 °C | 10 |
| Rome in January | 13 °C | 10 |
| Venice in January | 8 °C | 5 |
| Prague in January | 4 °C | 10 |
| Copenhagen in January | 4 °C | – |
| Bangkok in January | 33 °C | – |
11FAQ
Dubai in January: your questions
Is January a good time to visit Dubai?
January is a good month to visit Dubai. Daytime highs average 25 °C (77 °F), rain falls on about 1 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are very busy.
What is the weather like in Dubai in January?
Expect warm days around 25 °C (77 °F) and nights near 17 °C (63 °F). One January in ten brings afternoons above 28 °C, and one in ten stays below 23 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Dubai in January?
January brings about 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain over roughly 1 days, which is dry by Dubai standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 5 percent.
What should I wear in Dubai in January?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes.
Is Dubai crowded in January?
The main sights are very busy in January. Main drivers: Dubai Shopping Festival; ideal weather; New Year fireworks at Burj Khalifa.
What time does it get dark in Dubai in January?
Around the middle of January the sun sets at about 17:51 and rises at 07:06, giving 10.7 hours of daylight.