The best times to visit Dubai

The UAE doesn’t officially experience four seasons as expected in Europe, but temperatures do fluctuate throughout the year. The transition periods between the hot summers and cool winters are considered by many to offer the best conditions for Dubai breaks.

March to June and September to November enjoy regular daytime temperatures between 25°C and 35°C with cloudless blue skies most days. This time is perfect for sunseekers while keeping to just the right side of comfortable for getting around and enjoying outdoor attractions such as the adventure resorts of Dubai Parks, the waterslides and pools at Aquaventure and Wild Wadi, or watersports beside the city beaches.

There’s no denying it: Dubai is hot from mid-June to the end of August. Temperatures can soar over 40°C, and spending hours outdoors at the day’s peak is only for the most dedicated sun worshippers. Dubai, however, is built for these conditions, and summer can still be a great time to visit. You’ll find many of the hotels offer their best rates at this time, with free half board and kids-go-free deals often available as an enticement to spend your summer holidays in the UAE.

Endless indoor attractions, from vast shopping malls and aquariums to a real-snow ski slope in the desert and the world’s tallest building, mean you’ll never be short of entertainment. Hotter months also mean nighttime temperatures are ideal for wandering the souks, strolling by the shops and restaurants of the JBR, or taking an evening cruise on Dubai Creek.

Despite the pictures you’ll see in the brochures and blogs, Dubai has a winter. This means you might need to wear a jacket in the evening. 25°C is not uncommon for daytime from December to February, and nights are still perfectly comfortable for walking or dining outdoors.

This time of year is a great time for those who prefer to be more active during the day or want to spend long hours on the beach without worrying about overheating. It’s also a great excuse to fly away from the rain and fog of home and get a little more wear from those light dresses and linen shirts. It’s also when Dubai comes alive with some of the year’s most spectacular celebrations. Another great advantage of visiting in winter is the opportunity to use Emirates’ excellent flight connections to the Indian Ocean for a Dubai and Maldives package and a luxurious private island castaway escape.

This destination loves glitzy events and lavish celebrations, so it’s no surprise the city goes big on fireworks and parties for the New Year. If you haven’t visited at the right time before, you might not know that Dubai has embraced the magic of Christmas, too. Dubai holidays at the end of the year aren’t just a tactic for avoiding the cold; they’re also a great way to spend the festive season. Pop-up winter markets bring the joy and sparkle of Europe’s most romantic cities into the warm Arabian nights. Dubai Shopping Festival provides opportunities to find unique and glamorous gifts. Global Village, Dubai Parks, and even Dubai Opera tailor their programmes to the season.

You’ll also find most hotels curate a series of celebratory events, from meeting Santa to special Christmas banquets and dozens of fun activities for kids. Then, when New Year arrives, things really get going - enjoy all-night dancing, A-list live music, and Champagne galas. Spend the year’s biggest midnight in Dubai, and you’ll have plenty of options to mark the occasion, from huge public gatherings to intimate and exclusive events.

Christmas and New Year aren’t the only showcase occasions on Dubai’s calendar. If you enjoy the atmosphere of a big event, there are plenty to plan your visits around. After the festive season's Dubai Shopping Festival ends in January, the International Jazz Festival brings music, and the Dubai International Boat Show elevates the glamour.

The world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, entices riders with a $12 million prize purse in March, while shopping returns alongside spectacular shows and family events at Dubai Summer Surprises from June to August. Each November is an extraordinary month of sport featuring action from the DP World Tour Championship golf tournament to the Middle East’s longest-running sporting occasion, the Dubai Rugby Sevens, now an annual festival for more than 50 years.

Also in November, just an hour’s drive from the heart of Dubai, the international Formula 1 season comes to a dramatic end at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. All this is just a snapshot of the many regular and ad-hoc events that take place in and near Dubai each year.

The truth is, the best time to visit Dubai is whenever you want to go. Find your perfect balance of heat, activities, and events. With just 25 days of rain in an average year and thousands of captivating indoor and outdoor attractions, there’s never a bad time to visit, and the best time will depend on your tastes.

With incredible connections to the Indian Ocean, Asia, Africa, India, and even Australia and New Zealand, you can plan a Dubai stopover to suit any itinerary and even include it as your first or last destination and a once-in-a-lifetime round-the-world trip. Or you can take advantage of its proximity to the UK and eight direct flights a day to treat yourself to a long weekend whenever you feel the time is right.