Dubai, United Arab Emirates: When to Go and Weather

Weather: The desert meets a warm body of water, the Arabian Gulf, in Dubai. The subtropical climate sees blue skies, hot sun, and little precipitation year-round. Outdoor spaces are pretty uncomfortable for much of the year, though temperatures cool off a bit in winter. Travelers don't come to Dubai to stroll the streets or visit the water's edge, anyway - the city is all about contemporary high-rises, shopping, and indoor entertainment.

Summer: Dubai weather is so hot in summer that hotels actually try to cool their swimming pools. The heat and humidity are exceptionally high in July. The average temperature is 92 degrees and the average monthly rainfall is less than one inch.

Fall: Autumn is hot in Dubai, too - are you sensing a pattern? Expect sunny skies, little rain, and temperatures down just a few degrees from summertime. The average temperature is 80 degrees and the average monthly rainfall is less than one inch.

Winter: Rain is slightly more likely during Dubai's warm winter. The temperatures are still up in the 80s and 90s, though, and visitors only enjoy being outdoors when the sun isn't too high in the sky. The average temperature is 70 degrees and the average monthly rainfall is 1 inch.

Spring: March can be tolerable, but by April and May, the sidewalks of Dubai are often sizzling. The average temperature is 82 degrees and the average monthly rainfall is less than one inch.

Looking for local weather reports? Try www.7days.ae or www.eyeofdubai.com.

When to Go: Peak Season
Unlike many tourist destinations (or at least those that don't center around tropical beaches), Dubai's peak season is in winter. From November to April, Dubai weather is much more bearable than in summer, so visitors can actually enjoy walking around the streets instead of being confined to air-conditioned indoor spaces. Occasional rainy weather affects the area, and while days are warm, humidity is at a minimum. In the evenings, the weather is excellent for outdoor dining and strolling. Starting in early December, the city is especially busy with holiday shoppers, but the biggest crowds thin out a bit after the New Year.

When to Go: Off Season
Extreme heat and humidity drive out the tourist crowds in June through September. The temperatures are so uncomfortably high, in fact, that the local tourism board started a tourist-oriented program called Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) to attract more visitors to the city during these months. Families traveling in and around Dubai during this time should inquire about these organized itineraries and discounts. Hotels and restaurants are much less expensive than usual at this time. If you've come to Dubai for shopping, you probably won't mind the heat because you'll be inside aid-conditioned malls and boutiques all day - and you'll save on accommodations.

When to Go: Shoulder Season
Dubai weather is milder in May and October than in summer. It's still hot, of course, and some days are uncomfortably humid, but these in-between months form the city's shoulder season. Most of Dubai's attractions are indoors, anyway, so the fact that the sun shines every day and that rain is only occasional isn't very important. But hotel rates are often discounted, at least somewhat, between the scorching-hot summer and the peak season of winter. Shoppers still crowd the malls and families fill the movie theatres, however, so the shoulder season isn't a great change from the height of tourist season.

• Thu

   

  Sunny

  82  71

• Fri

   

  Sunny

  83  69

• Sat

   

  Partly Cloudy

  87  70

• Sun

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  82  68

• Mon

   

  Scattered Thunder- storms

  80  67

• Tue

   

  Sunny

  81  66

• Wed

   

  Sunny

  82  65

Get more information on Dubai weather.