The best time to visit Dubai are the months from November to March – that is during the European winter. Thus, a trip to Dubai is ideal to escape the freezing temperatures and recharge some sun. Because there is sunshine all year round.
The average annual temperature in the desert city on the Persian Gulf is a warm 27 degrees celsius. Basically, there is even a nice weather guarantee, since rain falls very rarely in Dubai.
Another big advantage is that Dubai is only about 6 hours away from Central Europe by plane, which is why even a one-week trip is worthwhile. But what climate conditions exactly await you? When is actually the cheapest time to travel? These and other questions will be clarified in this article.
Best time to visit Dubai
As already mentioned, the best time to visit Dubai is between November and March. During these months, temperatures range from a pleasant summery 20 to 30 degrees celsius and the sun shines an average of 8 to 9 hours a day. Rain usually only occurs on one day per month – so it is almost non-existent.
Conditions are thus ideal for sightseeing; nice and warm, but not scorching hot. In exceptional cases there can be days with over 30 degrees. For those who find this too exhausting, sightseeing must then rather be scheduled for the morning or evening hours, and the hottest midday hours can be spent in the cool mall or by the water. In the evening, however, it can cool down to 13 degrees, so you should have a light jacket with you.
The water in the Persian Gulf is still a bit fresh in January and February with an average of 22 degrees. If you mainly intend to have a beach vacation, the months of November, December and March are preferable.
Popular activities and tours in Dubai
Overview table for the best travel time
The following is a brief overview of the climate data in the best travel season:
| Ø Temperature | Max. Temperature | Hours of sunshine | Water temperature | |
| November | 26° | 31° | 9h | 27° |
| December | 22° | 26° | 8h | 25° |
| January | 20° | 23° | 8h | 22° |
| Februrary | 21° | 25° | 8h | 23° |
| March | 22° | 27° | 9h | 23° |
From my own experience, I can say that it usually feels much warmer than the statistics initially suggest. I also experienced a maximum temperature of 30 degrees during January. Thus, the data is really only indicative.
The most expensive time to travel
As it is often the case, the best time to travel is also the most expensive one. This also applies to Dubai as a destination. According to this, people pay the most for a Dubai vacation in the months from November to March. But it gets particularly expensive at Christmas and New Year. After all, the spectacular fireworks in Dubai attract masses of tourists.
To be more precise, the most popular travel period extends from Christmas to January 7. That is the day when the Russian Christmas is celebrated. And since Dubai is a popular destination among Russians, many of them can be found there at this time.
What is certain is that at Christmas time, many places in Dubai are festively decorated and adorned. Sometimes also extremely grandiose, so that the scene is really impressive. Whether you want to accept higher travel prices because of the Christmas decorations and the New Year’s Eve fireworks, however, is something you have to weigh up for yourself.
The most affordable time to travel to Dubai
The more affordable dates for a trip to Dubai are during the European summer vacations. However, the period can be extended to the months from May to September. During these months, temperatures reach 42 degrees during the day. And even at night it hardly cools down. The water temperature is a good 30 degrees and is therefore absolutely unsuitable for cooling down.
For Europeans, these are usually unbearable conditions. If you can’t stand such high temperatures without any precipitation, you should avoid this travel time at all costs. Because under these circumstances it might be difficult to spend a pleasant summer vacation.
If you are very sensitive to heat, you should also be careful during the months of April and October. These periods are often still classified in the good travel season, although it can already become unpleasantly hot at that time.
But if you are totally resistant to heat, then the summer months are ideal for you. During this time, Dubai trips are available at bargain prices. You often save 50% or more compared to the high season in winter. So you can find plenty of offers for a good $600 for a whole week in a first class hotel in Dubai.
But be careful: don’t underestimate the heat and know your limits.
The best time to go on a Dubai cruise
Dubai cruises are only offered in the winter months for good reason – no one wants to go in the summer because of the heat. That’s why cruise lines like AIDA, Costa and MSC only offer Dubai cruises from October to March. Destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Oman or Bahrain have similar climatic conditions to Dubai, so any temperature differences can be neglected.
Cruises over Christmas and New Year are basically the most expensive, but at the same time certainly a great experience. Thus, festive decorations are made on board and there are special meals and parties according to the holidays. If you are lucky, you can even lie in one of the harbors on New Year’s Eve and marvel at the magnificent fireworks.
Vacation in Dubai during the Ramadan
Every year, many Muslims completely abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset during the fasting month of Ramadan. Since a large part of Dubai’s inhabitants belong to the Muslim faith, the question for tourists is whether they should also expect restrictions during the fasting month.
Yes, they do indeed – at least partially. Of course, tourists are allowed to eat and drink during the day – but not in public. What this means exactly, I can’t say. But you probably shouldn’t walk the streets with a cheeseburger in your hand. Chewing gum and smoking should also be refrained from. Depending on how you look at it, that can be a severe limitation.
Dubai has fortunately become more open and flexible in recent years. Thus, for the most part, operations in the hotels are proceeding normally. Only the buffets are occasionally screened so that those fasting are not confronted with the food.
For some attractions you have to expect shortened opening hours. Restaurants may be closed altogether or open later than usual. However, the malls and theme parks are open on a regular basis.
Advantages of travelling during Ramadan
And so a vacation during Ramadan also offers advantages: The sights, amusement parks and malls are less crowded, so there are no long waiting times. The city is generally emptier because many residents retire during the day. After sunset, the city comes alive even more, as the people come out to eat together in the restaurants.
So there are both advantages and disadvantages of traveling to Dubai during Ramadan. To help you keep track of the dates for the fasting month, here are the dates for the next few years:
- March 11 – April 10, 2024
- March 1 to March 30, 2025
Conclusion: When is the best time to visit Dubai?
You definitely won’t go wrong with the months from November to March. Temperatures rarely exceed the 30-degree mark, so it’s easy to stay in the sun during the day.
If you are planning a beach vacation, the months of November, December and March are more advantageous, as the water is warmer then. Sightseeing, on the other hand, is most enjoyable in January and February due to milder temperatures. However, you do not need to worry about rain all through the year.
You may also like
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something using these links, I’ll receive a small commission. This way you can support my work on the travel blog. Don’t worry: it won’t increase the price of the product!
