By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 6 min read
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
The best time to visit Dubai is November to March, if your trip is mostly outdoors. Those months suit beach days, desert safaris and long sightseeing days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. October and April work too, with hotter middays.
The figures below average the daily highs and lows that NOAA holds for the Dubai International (DXB) weather station, 2016 to 2025. The record has gaps, so treat them as a guide, not a forecast. Our Dubai weather by month guide takes each month in more detail.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 17°C | The coolest month. The Dubai Shopping Festival runs to 17 January 2027. |
| February | 27°C | 18°C | Mild days for the beach and an Abu Dhabi day trip |
| March | 30°C | 21°C | Still mild, with highs about 30°C |
| April | 34°C | 24°C | Warm middays. Jebel Jais’s recommended season ends. |
| May | 39°C | 28°C | Most Hatta activities stop after 5 May |
| June | 42°C | 31°C | Plan mornings, evenings and indoor days |
| July | 42°C | 33°C | Dubai Summer Surprises began on 2 July in 2026 |
| August | 43°C | 33°C | The hottest month. Summer Surprises ran to 30 August in 2026. |
| September | 41°C | 31°C | Still summer heat. Visit Hatta lists 28 September for its Season 9 opening. |
| October | 36°C | 28°C | Global Village Season 31 opened on 14 October 2026 |
| November | 32°C | 23°C | The cool season starts for safaris and beaches |
| December | 28°C | 19°C | National Day on 2 and 3 December, Dubai Shopping Festival from 4 December 2026 |
Peak season: November to March
Average highs at DXB sit between 26°C and 32°C in these five months, and average lows between 17°C and 23°C. NOAA’s monthly totals for 2011 to 2025 put almost all of Dubai’s rain between November and April, so an occasional shower is possible.
This is also when Dubai’s big seasonal events land:
- National Day: a public holiday on 2 and 3 December.
- Dubai Shopping Festival: 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027.
- Global Village: Season 31, from 14 October 2026 to May 2027.
Our Dubai and UAE events calendar lists the season’s events month by month.
Shoulder months: October, April and May
October averages 36°C by day and 28°C at night. It is warm, but the seasonal openings start: Global Village on 14 October 2026, and Visit Hatta’s Season 9, listed for 28 September.
April averages 34°C by day, with a 24°C low. Mornings and evenings still work well outdoors. Visit Jebel Jais recommends October to April for its mountain, so April is the last month of that window.
May is closer to summer, at 39°C by day and 28°C at night. Visit Hatta runs most of its activities only from 1 October to 5 May, and Dubai Miracle Garden usually closes in April or May.
Is summer worth it? June to September
From June to September, average highs at DXB run from 41°C to 43°C. Average lows stay between 31°C and 33°C, so even nights are warm.
Summer still works if you build the day around the heat:
- Outdoors early or late. Fit the beach, the souks or a desert drive before 10 am or after sunset.
- Indoors at midday. Malls, museums and indoor theme parks run all year.
- Deals. Dubai Summer Surprises, the summer festival of offers, ran from 2 July to 30 August in 2026.
- Closures. Global Village has no summer opening, Miracle Garden closes for replanting, and Jebel Jais paused its activities for part of summer 2026.
A car with driver helps most in these months. The car waits outside each stop with the air conditioning running, so you are not queuing at a taxi rank in 43°C heat. Our guide to Dubai in summer covers the hot months in more detail.
How do Ramadan and Eid change a trip?
Ramadan follows the Hijri calendar, which is lunar and about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. So Ramadan starts earlier each year. The UAE sets Islamic holidays by moon sighting, and the exact start date is confirmed just before.
- Working hours: private-sector working hours are 2 hours shorter each day during Ramadan, says the UAE government portal. Plan meetings around the shorter day.
- Eid Al Fitr: a public holiday from 1 to 3 Shawwal. If Ramadan runs to 30 days, day 30 becomes an Eid holiday too.
- Eid Al Adha: a public holiday from 10 to 12 Dhu al-Hijjah, after Arafah Day on the 9th.
Our Ramadan guide for visitors covers what changes for a visitor during the month. For every date in the year, see the UAE public holidays guide.
Which months suit desert safaris, beaches and day trips to Abu Dhabi?
| Trip | Most comfortable months | In the hot months |
|---|---|---|
| Desert safari | November to March | Book the sunset slot after the midday heat, or a morning safari |
| Beach days | November to April | Go before 10 am or in the last hours before sunset |
| Abu Dhabi day trip | October to April, for the outdoor stops | Give midday to indoor stops such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi galleries |
| Hatta | 1 October to 5 May, when most Visit Hatta activities run | Most activities do not run outside that window |
| Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah | October to April, as Visit Jebel Jais recommends | Activities paused for part of summer 2026 |
A desert safari runs every day of the year, but the cool months, November to March, are the most comfortable. Our best time for a desert safari guide compares the morning, sunset and overnight slots month by month.
When to book hotels, tours and transfers ahead
Book furthest ahead for December. In 2026 the month holds National Day on 2 and 3 December, the Dubai Shopping Festival from 4 December, and New Year’s Eve. For those dates, book the hotel first, then the cars and tours.
For Eid, plan around the moon sighting. The holiday dates firm up only shortly before, so keep a day of slack either side of a key booking.
For the airport, send your flight number when you book an airport transfer. The chauffeur follows the real landing time and waits in arrivals with your name on a board. You can book private tours across the UAE for any month, quoted on WhatsApp and answered 24/7.
When the seasonal attractions open and close
| Attraction | Season | Hours and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Global Village | Season 31, 14 October 2026 to May 2027 | 4 pm to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, 4 pm to 1 am Thursday to Saturday. Tuesdays for ladies and families, except public holidays. |
| Dubai Miracle Garden | Usually late September or October to April or May | 9 am to 9 pm. Closed in summer for maintenance and replanting. Check the official site for this season’s opening date. |
| Hatta | Season 9 listed from 28 September. Most activities run 1 October to 5 May. | Activities close in rain until the ground dries |
| Jebel Jais | October to April recommended | The mountain is open 24/7. Some activities close in extreme weather. |
Our Global Village timings guide has the season’s hours in more detail. For everything else on a first trip, start with the Dubai travel guide.
Photos in this guide
Kitesurfers' kites over the sea at Kite Beach in Jumeirah, with the Burj Al Arab on the horizonMaryJaneB / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The green water of Hatta Dam between the bare peaks of the Hajar Mountains, with pedal boats moored on the rightSrivath / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Shoppers on two levels of the Dubai Mall, with palm trees in the atrium belowMarek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Flower-covered figures, cottages and a floral clock at Dubai Miracle Garden under a clear skyBalou46 / Wikimedia Commons (cropped), CC BY-SA 4.0
