Dubai travel guide
The best time to visit Dubai is November to March, when daytime highs run from about 24°C to 31°C and nights are cooler. December to February is coolest but busiest and priciest. April and October are warm shoulder months. From June to September highs reach 39°C to 41°C, so indoor plans work better.
Facts checked 2 Nov 2026
| Month | Temperature | Rain | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14° to 24°C | 15 mm | Peak |
| Feb | 16° to 25°C | 25 mm | Peak |
| Mar | 18° to 28°C | 15 mm | Shoulder |
| Apr | 22° to 33°C | 7 mm | Shoulder |
| May | 26° to 38°C | 1 mm | Off season |
| Jun | 29° to 40°C | 0 mm | Off season |
| Jul | 31° to 41°C | 0 mm | Off season |
| Aug | 31° to 41°C | 0 mm | Off season |
| Sep | 29° to 39°C | 0 mm | Off season |
| Oct | 25° to 36°C | 1 mm | Shoulder |
| Nov | 21° to 31°C | 4 mm | Shoulder |
| Dec | 17° to 26°C | 15 mm | Peak |
Dubai is a coastal desert city, so the season decides how much of your trip you can enjoy outdoors. Nothing here is about monsoon or rain: Dubai is dry almost all year. The real question is heat. Beaches, the desert, Marina walks and outdoor sightseeing are comfortable for about five months and demanding for the rest. This guide explains the seasons, month by month, and who should travel when.
Go between November and March. Daytime highs are about 31°C in November, 26°C in December, 24°C in January, 25°C in February and 28°C in March, with cooler nights, and the weather suits sightseeing, beaches and desert excursions. December to February is generally the most pleasant period, but it is also peak season: expect higher prices, busy attractions and heavier demand around the holidays. Late October, early April and the warmer edges of the season are the choices for slightly lower prices.
November is excellent for sightseeing and desert excursions, with highs around 31°C and lows around 21°C, and very little rain. December has excellent peak-season weather, with highs near 26°C and lows near 17°C, and demand is high around the holidays. January is the coolest month, with highs near 24°C and lows near 14°C, and it is excellent for sightseeing but also peak season with higher prices. February is excellent and still peak, with highs near 25°C and lows near 16°C. March is very good for city, desert and beach activities, with highs around 28°C and lows around 18°C. Rainfall in these months is light, roughly 4 mm to 25 mm, and rarely disrupts a trip.
April is good but warming up: highs reach about 33°C with lows near 22°C, so mornings and evenings are pleasant and afternoons are hot. May is hot, with highs near 38°C and lows near 26°C, so schedule outdoor activities early or late. October is a good shoulder month, with highs near 36°C and lows near 25°C, and evenings become more comfortable. If you travel in these months, plan outdoor activities for the morning or after sunset and keep malls, aquariums and other indoor attractions for the middle of the day.
June reaches about 40°C with lows near 29°C and high humidity, so indoor attractions are preferred. July and August are extremely hot: highs reach about 41°C and lows stay near 31°C, and you should limit midday outdoor time. September is very hot at about 39°C, improving gradually late in the month. Rain is essentially absent. Travellers often underestimate this period: April through October is frequently regretted, because daytime heat makes beaches, desert trips, Marina walks and outdoor sightseeing uncomfortable. If you do go in summer, you will usually find lower, low-season prices, and it works for a budget-focused trip built around indoor attractions, a hotel with a good pool and activities early in the morning or in the evening.
Schedule outdoor activities early or after sunset. Choose a hotel near the Metro, because short-looking journeys feel long in the heat. Book Burj Khalifa timed entry in advance. Confirm what your desert safari includes. Peak weeks around the holidays sell out, so book flights and hotels early if you plan to travel then.
This guide is compiled from published tourism, weather and transport information and traveller reports about Dubai, and was last checked on 2 November 2026. Prices, schedules and rules change, so confirm details before you book.
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FAQs
Short answers to what travellers ask about Dubai.
January is the coolest month, with highs near 24°C and lows near 14°C. December and February are also pleasant, around 25°C to 26°C by day. These months are peak season, so expect higher prices and busy attractions.
From June to September, highs reach 39°C to 41°C with high humidity, so midday outdoor sightseeing is hard. Many travellers still go for lower prices and plan around malls, aquariums and other indoor attractions, with outdoor time early in the morning or after sunset.
Rain is light and rare. Winter months see a little, roughly 15 mm to 25 mm in December to February, while June to September are essentially dry. Weather rarely disrupts a Dubai trip, though heat is the bigger planning issue.
April is good but warming up. Highs reach about 33°C with 22°C nights, so mornings and evenings are pleasant and afternoons are hot. Plan outdoor activities early or late, and keep indoor attractions for the middle of the day.
Yes. November is excellent for sightseeing and desert excursions, with highs around 31°C and lows around 21°C and very little rain. It is warmer than December to February but usually better value than the peak weeks of the season.
December, January and February are peak season, with excellent weather but higher prices and busy attractions, especially around the holidays. November and March are slightly warmer and usually good value, while summer is low season with lower prices.
Usually yes. July, for example, commonly has low-season pricing, and summer rates are lower than in December to February. The trade-off is extreme heat, so build the trip around indoor attractions, a good hotel pool and outdoor time early or late.
November to March is the most comfortable window for desert excursions. In other months, travellers recommend moving the safari to the evening, and confirming the camp style, group size and inclusions before you book.
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