So, do you have Dubai as your next stop on your world tour? Good choice because there is a lot to see, do, and experience in this gorgeous place. But do earmark the summer months of Dubai so you can go frolic on those gorgeous beaches you see in pictures. Well, this might not be your safest bet due to just how hot it gets – so you might want to rethink that. You might have way more fun on a Dubai beach in winter! Yes, you heard that right.
Before you pack your bags, book your flights and head to Dubai, you’ll need to consider “when is the best time to go to Dubai?” and what Dubai’s average temperature is by month. Knowing when to visit Dubai will help you guarantee you see the city in its ideal state. The best month to visit Dubai varies depending on Dubai weather by month, crowds, personal interests, and other key factors.
When is the best time to visit Dubai? The best time to visit Dubai in a year is the winter season. But when is winter in Dubai? Winter in Dubai lasts from November to March, during which the weather is fantastic – with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C.
During this period of the year, Dubai has far more enjoyable weather and offers visitors a break from the intense summer heat. This is the best time of year to go to Dubai for tourists who want to explore the city without experiencing summer-type weather. With cool and comfortable weather, visitors from around the world can truly enjoy spending time outside around the city, shopping, wandering, and lounging on the beach.
What to do in winter
Winter offers a unique charm, with plenty of activities to enjoy, from cozy getaways to thrilling outdoor adventures.
Frolic in the miracle garden
If you have been on the World Wide Web going to town with your Twitter fingers, you have probably come across Miracle Garden Dubai. The best time to visit is – you guessed it – the wintertime. The winter weather in Dubai is what makes this stunning destination so popular. Explore the incredible outdoor experiences that draw crowds from all parts of the world — from the world’s largest natural flower garden (Miracle Garden Dubai) to a desert safari adventure.
Time to get cultured and educated about Dubai
For those looking to explore the city’s culture and history, there’s no better time to visit Dubai’s landmarks like the Burj Khalifa or the Dubai Museum, or wandering the early 19th-century houses of Al Fahidi Neighbourhood.
Play in Dubai’s best beaches
Throughout the winter season, the days are sunny and bright, making winter the ideal time to visit Dubai and book a trip to Dubai’s famous beaches, like Jumeirah Beach and Kite Beach, for ultimate relaxation. If you prefer to spend your days dining and wining, there’s plenty of that as well. You’ll love dining with a view on the open-air terraces overlooking the beaches and the city’s pretty coastline.
Festival and shopping Galore
Dubai’s winter weather is also when many visitors come to experience the city’s most famous events, like the New Year’s Eve celebration and festivals. Some of these events draw millions of visitors from around the world, and the most popular Dubai event in winter is the Dubai Shopping Festival, which takes place every year from December to January. Dubai City is flooded with shoppers who have come here to enjoy sales, discounts, brands, and fashion shows at the Dubai malls like The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.
And if you wish to experience both shopping and entertainment, then the best time for you is to go to Dubai during this wintertime. During these months, the city is festive. Regardless of whether you are part of a party or just a quiet walk in the colourful streets of Dubai or the Dubai Marathon, you will feel that the city is full of energy. But like any other famous and beautiful place, the Dubai peak tourist season comes with its challenges.
The real Dubai experience in winter
Accommodation prices are at their highest during December and January, especially during Christmas and New Year‘s Eve. Additionally, during these two months, you may find it difficult to enjoy your visit to Dubai major tourist attractions because these places will be so crowded.
If you want to avoid waiting in lines to get instant access to the most important attractions in Dubai, you may want to consider travelling to Dubai in general in the days of November or early March.
Although the weather is still nice during these months, the number of tourists is relatively low, so you can enjoy a less stressful, more pleasant round in the city.
Spring (April to May): Warming up, but still pleasant
Spring is a transitional period from cool to hot temperatures, the period from April to May. But, the weather is not so hot compared to the temperatures to come. The temperature typically ranges between 70°F and 95°F.
For a lot of travellers, this is the best period to visit. Dubai presents the perfect opportunity to engage in many of Dubai’s outdoor offerings but without the searing heat of the summer months. The unbeatable weather remains sunny and dry, plus you can still enjoy all of what the city has to offer without the fast pace of fellow tourists and general crazy buzz as it may be in winter.
Spring is the perfect time for beach lovers. The weather is now good enough to enjoy a refreshing swim in the gulf or maybe some jet skiing and dhow cruises. The moderate temperatures of the glorious Dubai beach will allow you to stay there longer.
If you want to spend your days lounging on the golden sandy beaches of Dubai, including Jumeirah Beach, Kite Beach, or La Mer, it will be nice for you to go there throughout the day, especially if you go there early in the morning or in the late evenings.
Dubai in spring: fewer crowds
Think if you’re a fan of jet skiing, paddleboarding, or windsurfing. The sea conditions will be ready for you to enjoy spring days and refresh your body and mind. You will also still be able to enjoy swimming in the Arabian Gulf while the water temperatures are still refreshing.
Another thing to look forward to in April and May is Dubai now has fewer tourists around the city to enjoy some of the amazing and world-class attractions without too much of an inflated influx of tourists. No more small space.
The weather is perfect, and visiting during spring is not only much more enjoyable due to timely weather conditions but there will be much lower numbers there than in winter tourism months.
All of Dubai’s major landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Palm Jumeirah, are much quieter at this time of year. This means you’ll spend less time trying to fight through the crowds and waiting in ticket lines to get in, plus you get the added bonus of air-conditioned spots to galavant in.
Dubai’s affordability and warmer climate in spring
You likely will get away with a decently and more affordable travel price for visiting Dubai during April or May. Reason being, that the hospitality industry offers more concerted budget options than those travelling during peak seasons in winter.
And the best part of visiting Dubai during spring? You won’t have the atmosphere of many other travellers around to jostle with and work around, but you will enjoy the perfect weather conditions and the sparsely occupied city. Therefore, spring in Dubai is absolutely the cheapest time to visit Dubai and might make for a quieter and more budget-friendly travel destination.
While this season might be glorious weather-wise and is a so-called transition period that is not too hot and not too. That last month, aka May, might not be as mild. But is Dubai too hot in May? Well, if you travel by the end of May, you need to be cautious and prepare yourself for the rising temperature. At that point, the sun starts to shine aggressively around the month of May.
Some festivities in springtime Dubai
Now, while you may not get the splendour of festivals and events that come with the winter season – you will still get your fair share of delights and cool things to do in Spring. The various facets of Dubai emerge and come to life in springtime.
In conclusion, spring (especially April and May) allows you to enjoy pleasant temperatures while avoiding major tourist crowds and will no doubt be the best time to visit Dubai. The daylight awakened, temperature perfect, and tourists? Not as many as in the winter.
May will be nothing short of perfection for visiting and participating in outdoor activities in the radiant climate of Dubai; don’t miss the striking natural beauty of the city.
Summer (June to September): Budget travel & indoor experiences
When is summer in Dubai? Summer season in Dubai runs from June to September, and this is also the worst time to visit Dubai. The heat will be the biggest deterrent for tourists considering a trip.
In July and August, in particular, you can expect daily temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. During the Dubai summer weather, the month of August, the temperature can reach 45 degrees Celsius or even higher in the middle of summer, making it Dubai’s hottest month.
Is it worth going to Dubai in August? The answer is no. This extreme heat makes it difficult to enjoy the city and the beach, especially if you are not used to these high temperatures. So it’s definitely not the best time to enjoy the sandy beaches of Dubai or to discover some of the outdoor attractions in the city… unless you’re a fan of the heat and are acclimated to such intense weather.
Dubai summer’s ultimately budget-friendly season
But there is an excellent advantage to coming to Dubai during the summer season: it’s the cheapest time to go there. Everyone does not award a prize for the season. Indeed, the weather makes it quite difficult to carry on – even for the locals. So many tourists decide to visit another destination, and prices of hotels in Dubai drop to an all-time low.
While the outdoor activities in Dubai are quite limited during this period, there are still great indoor experiences to explore. You can enjoy the cool temperatures and explore the excellent shopping centres in the city, like the Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates, where you will find not only shops but also indoor ski slopes. And if you love to shop till you drop, Dubai Summer Surprises will be quite a treat for you! You could even head on over to the Dubai Aquarium for some stunning marine life.
Adventure seekers out there have to check out the IMG Worlds of Adventure, which is one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks. Also, the evening desert safari is a great way to explore the city’s famous desert landscape, as the temperatures are much more bearable than in the afternoon, which makes it one of the only outdoor things to do in Dubai during summer.
Autumn (October to Early November): shoulder season for a balanced experience
You are never going to get a freezing tundra in Dubai, but you will get some cooler temperatures (30°C to 35°C), to be exact, between October and early November, which will make doing activities like desert safaris and rooftop dining a tad bit more bearable! You can still have warm days at the beach and cool evenings that allow you to visit all the wonderful attractions in the city.
One of the biggest pros of visiting Dubai during autumn is the smaller crowds. With summer heat gone and the city coming back to life, but still not having reached the peak of the winter season. You get fewer tourists, less waiting in lines at the attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, and overall, a more peaceful experience.
Moreover, the hotels in Dubai are less expensive than during the winter high season. You can crash at a 5-star hotel with less money than during the busy winter season. Whether you are a food lover, a shopaholic, or a sightseeing addict, Autumn is the best time to go to Dubai for all, with the perfect weather and the peaceful hotels.
October or November is the best month to travel to Dubai for travellers that would like to avoid the high crowds of the winter season but get to see the fun festivities like the Dubai Airshow and Diwali celebrations. And at the same time, would like to equally enjoy the city bursting with fun and excitement. If that is the case, then Dubai is ideal for you, as you get the best of both worlds, with the great temperatures and the city being less chaotic and busy.
Best time for specific activities
If you’re looking to explore the desert, then consider the months of October to March as the best months to visit Dubai for desert safari, camel riding, and dune bashing since the temperature is the most suitable. Also this is the ideal time to do some skydiving and hot air balloon rides!
Summer is the preferred season for the water babies to hit Dubai’s beaches since the water is warm and an excellent time for parasailing or for sports fishing. Channel diving also becomes great fun around this November to April time as there is an abundance of underwater life.
And if you want to soak in the culture sans the flash of the glitz and glamour, aka visiting the souks, Old Dubai, and mosques, the November to February months are calling your name.
If you want to drop some money and shop till you drop the shopping festivals from January and July, have your name (or credit card) written all over them!
Ultimately, the answer to when to visit Dubai is a subjective choice. If you’re all for the perfect weather around, spending time outdoors, sightseeing, and sunbathing, then the best time to visit Dubai is between November and March, when the conditions are very pleasant to enjoy your Dubai holidays.
If you are looking at a visit to Dubai without burning a hole in your pocket, then the best time of year to visit Dubai is either summer, depending only if you are fine with the skimming temperatures and are okay to stay locked indoors and check out the indoor fun activities in Dubai.
When should you visit Dubai?
Whether you visit Dubai in harsh weather, less spicy weather, or ideal weather, the city will never fail to amaze you. Be it admiring the view from the Burj Khalifa, shopping in Dubai’s feisty malls, or a beautiful sunset cruise on the Arabian Gulf, Dubai will never disappoint when it comes to surprise, delight, and making your trip memorable. The best part about Dubai is that it accommodates just about any traveller and their wallet size. You just have to choose a season to go based on what you want to see and do. Of course, the most economical and travel-friendly method is to join a group trip to Dubai. But however you go and in whatever season, the City of Gold will be waiting for you.
