Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Winter is the postcard season; summer is when the same hotels get dramatically cheaper
Photo: Norlando Pobre · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dubai flips the usual sun-destination logic: winter, not summer, is the comfortable season and the price peak, while summer heat is severe enough that hotels discount heavily to fill rooms most visitors would rather avoid.
12-month view
Season calendar
Comfortable low-to-mid-20s°C, dry; the Dubai Shopping Festival continues from December. High season, firm prices.
Dubai Shopping Festival
Premiums are indicative ranges versus the surrounding non-holiday weeks. Tap or click any month for the exact dates. Term dates vary slightly by council; see our data sources.
Our verdict
October is the best-value window with genuinely comfortable weather: the extreme summer heat has broken and winter pricing hasn't arrived yet. If price matters more than comfort, July and August are dramatically cheaper than winter, provided you plan around staying indoors in the heat of the day.
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Is it a good time to go?
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How the year plays out
Seasons explained
Dubai has a hot desert climate with essentially two seasons. November to March is mild and dry, with daytime highs in the low-to-mid twenties Celsius and pleasant evenings; this is the comfortable season for the beach, outdoor dining and desert excursions, and correspondingly the most expensive and crowded time to visit. April and May are a short, hot shoulder as temperatures climb quickly. June to September is severe: daytime highs regularly exceed 40°C with high coastal humidity, outdoor activity is largely limited to early morning or evening, and most life moves indoors to malls, aquariums and air-conditioned attractions.
That summer heat is exactly why it is Dubai's off-season on price: hotels that charge premium winter rates cut them sharply from June to August to keep occupancy up, which makes Dubai one of the more surprising long-haul value options for UK families who don't mind planning around the heat. October is the turning point each year, as temperatures ease toward comfortable and pricing hasn't yet caught up to the winter peak. Dubai's calendar also carries major events that move prices independent of weather, notably the Dubai Shopping Festival spanning December into January and the Dubai World Cup horse race in late March, both of which push demand and rates up further inside the winter peak.
For UK families
Dubai in the school holidays
February half term sits inside the comfortable, high-demand winter season: excellent weather, firm prices. Easter timing varies Dubai's weather from pleasant to noticeably hot depending on the year, with prices easing as the season winds down. The summer holidays are Dubai's cheapest stretch by a wide margin, and a realistic option if your trip leans toward pools, malls and indoor attractions rather than full days outdoors. October half term is a strong pick: the heat has broken, prices haven't yet reached winter levels, and outdoor sightseeing is comfortable again. Christmas and New Year is one of the most expensive periods of the year, coinciding with both peak season and the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival; book well ahead.
Choose your region on the season calendar above to see the exact term dates and typical premium for each break.
Historical data
Typical temperatures
| Month | Average low | Average high | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17.2°C | 25.2°C | 21.2°C |
| Feb | 18.5°C | 26.8°C | 22.7°C |
| Mar | 21.1°C | 30.1°C | 25.6°C |
| Apr | 25°C | 34.8°C | 29.9°C |
| May | 28.2°C | 38.6°C | 33.4°C |
| Jun | 31.3°C | 41.5°C | 36.4°C |
| Jul | 33.6°C | 42.4°C | 38°C |
| Aug | 33.2°C | 42.3°C | 37.8°C |
| Sep | 31°C | 40.4°C | 35.7°C |
| Oct | 27.6°C | 36.3°C | 32°C |
| Nov | 23.4°C | 31.5°C | 27.5°C |
| Dec | 19.5°C | 27.4°C | 23.4°C |
Ten-year monthly averages of daily highs and lows from the Dubai International Airport weather station (28.1 km away), via Meteostat. Window 2016–2026.
Chance of rain
| Month | Rainy days |
|---|---|
| Jan | 1.2 |
| Feb | 1.1 |
| Mar | 1.7 |
| Apr | 0.5 |
| May | 0.2 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 0.1 |
| Aug | 0 |
| Sep | 0.1 |
| Oct | 0.1 |
| Nov | 0.7 |
| Dec | 1 |
Average number of days per month with at least 1mm of rainfall. From the Dubai International Airport weather station (28.1 km away), via Meteostat. Window 2016–2026.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Dubai?
- October is the best-value window with genuinely comfortable weather: the extreme summer heat has broken and winter pricing hasn't arrived yet. If price matters more than comfort, July and August are dramatically cheaper than winter, provided you plan around staying indoors in the heat of the day.
- When is Dubai most expensive?
- Our price index puts January, February, March, November and December at the top of the year for Dubai. The cheapest months on the same index are June to August. The season calendar above shows the month-by-month picture, with UK school holiday premiums marked.
- Is Dubai a good choice for the UK school holidays?
- February half term sits inside the comfortable, high-demand winter season: excellent weather, firm prices. Easter timing varies Dubai's weather from pleasant to noticeably hot depending on the year, with prices easing as the season winds down. The summer holidays are Dubai's cheapest stretch by a wide margin, and a realistic option if your trip leans toward pools, malls and indoor attractions rather than full days outdoors. October half term is a strong pick: the heat has broken, prices haven't yet reached winter levels, and outdoor sightseeing is comfortable again. Christmas and New Year is one of the most expensive periods of the year, coinciding with both peak season and the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival; book well ahead.
- Does it rain a lot in Dubai?
- On average, Dubai sees the fewest rainy days in June (around 0 days with rain) and the most in March (around 2 days). See the rainfall chart above for the full year, and our data sources page for how this is measured.
- Are there festivals or events that affect prices in Dubai?
- Yes — Dubai hosts Dubai Shopping Festival in January, and Dubai World Cup in March, and Dubai Shopping Festival in December, which can push prices above the usual seasonal pattern that month. Exact dates vary by year; check the season calendar above and confirm against the event's own listing before booking.
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