Best Time to Visit Dubai - All Information on Climate & Temperatures

Dubai, a fascinating metropolis and a tale of 1001 nights. The city is situated on one side by the shimmering blue Persian Gulf and on the other by a vast desert landscape. With nearly 2 million inhabitants, Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Have you ever wondered whether Dubai is a city or an emirate? You are not alone, as this question often leads to confusion. The answer is quite simple: Dubai is both a city and a region, or emirate.

Dubai is very popular as a stopover for long-distance travelers, but the fascinating city in the Arab Emirates has much more to offer than just terminal changes and transfers. Most people associate Dubai with deserts and luxury, expensive cars, and wealthy sheikhs. If you are planning a trip to Dubai, you should familiarize yourself with the climate of the emirate beforehand. When is the best time to visit Dubai? What is the weather like and what are the temperatures? You will find out all this in today's entry.

Due to the high daytime temperatures during the summer months in Dubai, I recommend traveling in the cooler winter between November and April. The temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C, and the sun shines an average of 9 hours a day, while the Persian Gulf invites you for a pleasant swimming experience at up to 27°C. Doesn't that sound like a nice break from snow and freezing temperatures in the United States?

However, you should also consider that a lot of travelers flock to the impressive metropolis of the Arab Emirates between November and March. Therefore, you should budget a little higher for flights and hotel costs, and book in advance. Overall, Dubai is an active and vibrant city year-round, as about 80% of its 2 million residents come from all over the world. A place that brings together people and cultures, and surely a fascinating travel destination for you. Also, check out the top attractions in Dubai.

The climate in Dubai is arid, classified as a desert climate. Characteristic features include heat, dryness, and low precipitation. Especially during the summer months, the humidity can reach 80%. The maximum temperatures in Dubai exceed 40°C. This is likely exhausting even for the fittest among us. Even a cool dip in the sea with a water temperature of up to 32°C can be less enjoyable.

However, the 'winter' in Dubai does not disappoint with average temperatures of 25°C for any European winter escapee. Sun worshippers need not worry either, as with 8 to 11 sunlight hours and a brilliant blue sky, there is enough sun and warmth for everyone. I have further divided the climate sections into coastal and desert regions in the next sections so that you have all the information for your trip to Dubai at a glance.

Along the approximately 70-kilometer-long coast, you will have to deal with high humidity of up to 80% despite the few rainy days in the summer months. This makes your sightseeing trip really tiring; only the air-conditioned shopping malls can help. However, a light breeze does provide some occasional 'cooling.' In the winter months, humidity drops to more pleasant levels around 40%. The Persian Gulf spoils you with a pleasant water temperature ranging from 22°C to 32°C all year round. The best travel time for a beach and sun holiday is from October to May.

90% of Dubai's area consists of desert. Surely a highlight for you on your trip to the Arab Emirates. Perhaps you also dream of a desert safari in a Jeep or an excursion to Bedouin camps. You should know that the daytime maximum temperatures in the desert can be a few degrees higher than those in the city. Therefore, during summer months, you should expect around 45°C.

My tip: Plan these activities for winter starting in October. If you absolutely cannot skip a desert excursion even in the summer months, bring plenty of water and lightweight clothing! Also, be mindful of the clothing customs of the Emirates. Avoid short and tight clothing; instead, opt for loose, long, and lightweight options. The best travel time for the desert region is also between November and March.

If you are not an avid sun lover or desert dweller, I would advise against visiting during the summer months in the bustling metropolis. Dubai has much more to offer than just white beaches to soak up the sun, and it would be a shame if you couldn't record all the highlights of the city in your travel diary because of the heat.

Instead, look forward to an escape from the European winter and book your flights between November and April. During this time, nothing should stand in the way of your breathtaking and action-packed trips to the desert and fascinating sightseeing days in the city. Immerse yourself in a thousand and one nights and look forward to an abundance of Arabic magic mixed with Western modernity.

Want to learn more about Dubai and its people? Then take a look at the travel guide by Dumont*. Here you will find all information about Dubai and its surroundings on 120 pages. Additionally, we have provided a summary of our current best travel novels*.