By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 3 min read
When is the best time of year for a desert safari?
November to March. The sand is warm in the afternoon and the camp is cool after dark. You can do a desert safari in any month, but the experience changes with the season more than with any other trip from Dubai.
Dubai’s best time to visit guide weighs weather against prices. For the desert alone, winter wins on comfort and summer wins on quiet.
Month by month: temperature, sunset and crowd level
Highs and lows are 1991 to 2020 averages at Dubai International. Open desert is usually colder than the city after dark. Sunset is for the 15th of the month and is given for six months only.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Sunset at Lahbab |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24.4 °C | 15.3 °C | n/a |
| February | 26.1 °C | 16.4 °C | 6:12 pm |
| March | 28.9 °C | 18.6 °C | n/a |
| April | 33.7 °C | 22.3 °C | 6:40 pm |
| May | 38.2 °C | 26.1 °C | n/a |
| June | 40.0 °C | 28.0 °C | 7:09 pm |
| July | 41.5 °C | 31.2 °C | n/a |
| August | 41.9 °C | 31.5 °C | 6:53 pm |
| September | 39.5 °C | 28.9 °C | n/a |
| October | 35.9 °C | 25.4 °C | 5:51 pm |
| November | 30.7 °C | 21.1 °C | n/a |
| December | 26.5 °C | 17.4 °C | 5:30 pm |
December and the weeks around New Year are the busiest, and June to August the quietest.
What time of day should you go?
The evening trip starts about 2 hours 30 minutes before sunset. In December that is about 3 pm. The morning trip starts at 7 to 8 am. The morning vs evening comparison sets out both timetables. For a morning start see the morning desert safari page.
Desert safari in summer: is it worth it?
It works if you pick the hour. From June to September, average highs are 39.5 to 41.9 °C and average lows stay above 28 °C. The evening trip starts at about 4:40 pm in June, and most of it happens after the worst of the heat. Ask for an air-conditioned 4x4.
Morning trips are harder, because the sun rises at about 5:28 am in June and the sand heats quickly. A private trip can leave before dawn. Our what to wear on a desert safari guide covers the clothes for each season.
Ramadan, Eid and New Year: what changes on safaris
Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from about 8 February to 8 March, depending on moon sighting. Eid Al Fitr follows, projected for about 9 to 11 March. No date is official until the UAE announces it.
During Ramadan the evening trip still runs. The camp meal and show may change, so ask for what is on offer. Our Ramadan in Dubai guide covers the rules for visitors.
Overnight camping season
Overnight camps work best from December to February, when the average low is 15 to 17 °C. In July and August the average low is above 31 °C, which is too warm to sleep well. The overnight desert safari page and the overnight guide show the schedule.
How to book the peak weeks
December and New Year are the busiest dates. Send your date, group size, children’s ages and pickup area on WhatsApp to +971 56 684 8148. The quote gives the pickup time, the inclusions and any peak-date terms.
Not sure which area the trip uses? See where Dubai desert safaris go, or browse all tours and day trips from Dubai.
Photos in this guide
The sun setting over low dunes and desert shrubs in the Dubai Desert Conservation ReserveiMahesh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The sun setting over low sand dunes and clumps of desert grass in the Dubai desertwww.traveljunction.com / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Two camels and their handlers in silhouette on a sand ridge at sunrise at a desert camp in DubaiSerine Ben Brahim / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A lit torch on a post at dusk, looking out over the dunes of the Al Marmoum desert in DubaiRob Young / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
