Best time to visit Dubai

Compare months and seasons by weather, crowds, hotel prices and key events. Pick the month that fits your priorities.

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Season overview

Sweet spot: November–March, peak December–February

Temperatures 20–30 °C, blue skies, everything comfortable outdoors. This is peak tourist season, so hotel prices and Burj Khalifa/desert safari demand are at their highest — book well ahead, especially over New Year and the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Summer (June–September): brutally hot, cheapest hotels

Daytime highs of 40–48 °C with high humidity make outdoor sightseeing miserable in the middle of the day. Malls, indoor attractions and Dubai Summer Surprises keep things bearable, and hotel rates drop by 40–60%. Fine for a mall-and-pool trip, hard for outdoor touring.

Shoulder season (April–May and October): warm, good value

Temperatures climb from a pleasant 25 °C in April/October to a hot 35–40 °C by late May. Crowds and prices are lower than winter, and outdoor activities (desert safaris, pools, early-morning tours) are still very workable.

Key events

Dubai Shopping Festival (mid-December to end of January) — citywide sales, fireworks and raffles. Dubai Summer Surprises (July–August) — retail promotions during the low season. Ramadan (dates shift yearly by ~11 days) — reduced daytime dining hours and a more subdued daytime atmosphere; New Year's Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa are among the world's biggest.