The best time to visit Dubai is November to March: 20-30°C by day, 14-20°C at night, a sea of 20-24°C and every one of our tours in its best conditions — the desert safari with a light jacket for the camp evening, the sunrise balloon in its main season, private yachts with a swim stop off the Palm. April and October are hot but workable with early starts; May to September is 38-45°C and the city moves indoors by day and onto the water after dark. Below is the month-by-month table, the peak weeks to book early and what each month changes for the desert, the balloon and the boats.
By SB Excursions · Published 15 September 2026 · Updated 15 September 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
What is the best time to visit Dubai?
November to March. Days are 20-30°C, nights 14-20°C, the sea 20-24°C, and the desert safari, the sunrise balloon and the yachts all run in their best conditions; January is the coolest month. April and October are a hot but workable second choice at 30-38°C. May to September is 38-45°C and best planned around evenings on the water and in the desert.
This guide also answers:
- What is the hottest month in Dubai?
- When is the cheapest time to visit Dubai?
- Can tourists visit Dubai during Ramadan?
The five seasons of a Dubai year
#1
November to March
Days of 20-30°C, nights of 14-20°C and a 20-24°C sea. The dune bashing runs in comfortable air, the balloon flies in clear dawns and a private charter can anchor off the Palm for a swim. January is the coolest month; bring a light jacket for the desert camp and layers for the balloon pickup.
#2
April and October
Hot at 30-38°C by early afternoon but pleasant in the morning and after 5 PM, with the sea at a warm 26-30°C. Sightsee before 11 AM, spend the middle of the day in a mall, a pool or on a moving yacht, and keep the desert for the late afternoon when the safari goes out anyway.
#3
May to September
Days of 38-45°C, nights above 30°C and heavy humidity from July to September; the sea reaches 33°C. Hotel rates usually fall furthest. The evening desert safari with its air-conditioned camp, the 9 PM yacht party and early-morning beach hours make it work, but the day is planned around the heat.
#4
Late December and Eid
National Day on 2-3 December opens the month, then Christmas and the New Year fireworks at Burj Khalifa fill the last two weeks; the days around Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the same. Hotels and tours are at their busiest, the balloon sells out earlier than its usual 1-2 weeks and the sunset yacht slots go first.
#5
Ramadan
The month shifts through the calendar, so check the dates for your year. Tourists eat in most restaurants by day, alcohol is served in hotels usually from the evening, live music pauses and shops stay open late. The desert safari and the yachts operate, with dinners and shows scheduled after iftar and a quieter, more local mood.
The short answer: November to March, then the two shoulder months
If you can pick any dates, come between November and March. Days sit at 20-30°C, nights at 14-20°C, the sea at 20-24°C, and the desert, the balloon and the yachts all run in their best conditions. January is the coolest month of the year and the one where the evening at the desert camp needs a light jacket.
If those months do not fit, April and October are the honest second choice: 30-38°C, hot by early afternoon but fine with a 7 AM start, and the sea at 26-30°C. May to September is summer at 38-45°C. It is not a reason to cancel — hotel rates usually drop, and our evening safari, the night yacht party and the air-conditioned desert camp exist for exactly these months — but you plan the day around the heat instead of the sights.
Two more dates matter more than the thermometer: the last two weeks of December and the days around Eid, when hotels and tours are at their busiest, and Ramadan, when the city's rhythm shifts to the evening. Both are covered below. For a plan rather than a calendar, the 3-day itinerary places the tours day by day, and the free SB AI planner lays them out on the map for your own dates.
Dubai month by month
The table below uses the typical bands for each month rather than forecasts. Where a month sits on the edge of a season, the first and last weeks can belong to either side.
| Month | Days | Sea | What it is like | Our tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20-30°C, coolest nights of 14-20°C | 20-24°C | Peak season, dry and clear; the New Year crowds thin after the first week | Everything runs at its best; jacket for the camp, layers for the balloon dawn |
| February | 20-30°C | 20-24°C | Peak season; Ramadan falls here in some years — check the dates | Balloon and desert at their clearest; book the balloon 1-2 weeks ahead |
| March | 20-30°C, warming late in the month | 20-24°C | Last full month of the season; a rare shower is possible December-March | Last cool desert evenings; private charters with a swim stop off the Palm |
| April | 30-38°C | 26-30°C | Shoulder: early starts; Global Village closes around the end of the month (check the season dates) | Safari still comfortable after sunset; the balloon season continues |
| May | 38-45°C | Up to 33°C | Summer begins; Miracle Garden closes around now (check the dates) | Evening safari, the 9 PM yacht party; balloon dates — check with us |
| June | 38-45°C | Up to 33°C | Sunset about 7:10 PM, sunrise about 5:30 AM: long, light evenings | Sunset slot on a private charter; swimming allowed until about 7 PM |
| July | 38-45°C, nights above 30°C, humid | Up to 33°C | Quietest month for the sights; hotel rates usually at their lowest | Indoor days; the desert and the water after dark |
| August | 38-45°C, humidity at its heaviest | Up to 33°C | Same as July; malls, waterparks and pools carry the day | Evening safari with air-conditioned tents; yacht party |
| September | 38-45°C, easing late in the month | Up to 33°C | Still summer; the balloon season restarts around September or October (check with us) | Evening safari; the first balloon flights of the season |
| October | 30-38°C | 26-30°C | Shoulder: Global Village usually opens late in the month (check the dates) | Everything workable with a 7 AM start; desert nights already cool |
| November | 20-30°C | 20-24°C | The season begins; walkable days, Miracle Garden opens (check the dates) | All four tours at their best; the easiest month to book |
| December | 20-30°C, cool evenings | 20-24°C | Sunset about 5:30 PM; National Day 2-3 December; the last two weeks are the busiest of the year | Book the balloon and the sunset yacht slots early; jacket for the camp |
Ramadan and both Eids move about 11 days earlier every year — check the dates for your year before fixing the hotel.
November to March: what the season gives each tour
The full-day desert safari is at its best in these months. The 30-45 minutes of dune bashing run in 20-30°C air, sunset comes early enough (about 5:30 PM in December) that the camp evening is long, and the air-conditioned tents at Al Khayma keep the December-February chill off. Bring a light jacket: the desert cools fast after dark.
The sunrise balloon has its main season from roughly September or October to May, and the winter months are the ones photographers book: clear air, the Hajar Mountains on the horizon and a 40-70 minute flight at 2,000-4,000 feet with gazelles and oryx on the dunes below. Dawn is chilly in the desert — layered clothes and closed shoes — and the baskets sell out 1-2 weeks ahead, so this is the booking to make first.
On the water, the season means swimming off the Palm from a private charter in a 20-24°C sea and sunset slots that everyone wants. The Coast Guard closes swimming around 5 PM in winter, so a 3-hour afternoon charter with a swim stop needs to leave by about 2 PM; the sunset yacht cruise guide has the sunset times by month. The shared Marina hour from $32 and the 9 PM yacht party run year round, but a winter evening on deck is the version most guests photograph.
Walking works too. Marina Walk, Al Fahidi and the Abu Dhabi Corniche are pleasant on foot, which is why the Abu Dhabi day — 9 hours, 8:00 AM pickup, the Grand Mosque before the midday sun — is easiest in these months. Abu Dhabi runs 2-3 degrees hotter than Dubai, so the winter margin matters there more than anywhere.
April and October: the shoulder months
These two months are the compromise most visitors find comfortable: 30-38°C by early afternoon, pleasant mornings and evenings, and a sea of 26-30°C. The rule is the early start — at the sights by 8 AM, indoors or on the water by 1 PM, out again after 5 PM. The metro and the malls are air-conditioned end to end, and the beach is a morning place rather than an afternoon one.
For our tours little changes on paper. The safari still runs its 7 hours with the cool part of the day after sunset; the balloon flies in April and again from around October, though in October check with us because the restart depends on the weather. The shared hour on the Marina uses the heat of the afternoon well because the yacht is moving and the meeting point at Level P of Al Majara Tower is a short taxi from DMCC station.
October has one extra reason: Global Village usually opens in the last part of the month, and desert nights are already cool enough for the camp to feel like winter. April has the last weeks of Miracle Garden and, in some years, Eid al-Fitr — check the dates before you commit to the hotel, because the days around Eid fill fast.
May to September: summer, and how the tours change
Summer is 38-45°C by day, 30°C or more at night, and from July to September the humidity turns the evening air heavy. The sea reaches 33°C, warmer than most pools. It is the low season for a reason, and also the reason hotel rates usually fall; if you come, build each day backwards from the heat.
- Desert: the full-day safari runs all summer with the same 7-hour programme. The dune bashing is in the late afternoon, the camp has air-conditioned tents, and unlimited chilled water, soft drinks, tea and Arabic coffee are included from $45.
- Balloon: summer flights depend on the weather. Check with us for your dates rather than assuming a slot; if a flight is cancelled you get a full refund or a new date.
- Yachts: the yacht party at 9 PM is the summer night out — moving air, the city lights, a live BBQ and unlimited soft drinks for $99, 21+ with an original ID. On a private charter, swim in daylight: the Coast Guard closes swimming around 7 PM in summer, so a late-afternoon slot gives you the swim and the sunset.
- Abu Dhabi: the tour still leaves at 8:00 AM and the Grand Mosque comes first, before the midday heat; the vehicle is air-conditioned and bottled water is on board. Expect the capital to be 2-3 degrees hotter than Dubai.
The full summer playbook — indoor days, mall hours, when to go outside — is in Dubai in summer.
The peak weeks: late December, Eid and National Day
The last two weeks of December are the busiest of the year: National Day on 2-3 December opens the month, then Christmas visitors arrive, then New Year with the fireworks at Burj Khalifa. Hotels and tours fill, and the balloon — which sells out 1-2 weeks ahead in a normal week — needs booking earlier still. The days around Eid al-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha are the same, and their dates move every year.
In practice: book the sunrise balloon with its 30% deposit as soon as your flights are fixed; hold the sunset slot on any private yacht early, since sunset is the most requested slot and the yacht is confirmed with the marina before you pay anything; and leave the desert safari and the Abu Dhabi day flexible — both are agreed on WhatsApp with no prepayment, so they can move if the plan changes. Dubai in December covers the fireworks and the New Year logistics.
Ramadan: what moves and what does not
Ramadan shifts about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates for your year before you assume anything. During the month tourists can eat in most restaurants in the daytime, alcohol is served in hotels usually from the evening, live music and loud entertainment pause, and shops open later and stay open late. The mood is calmer by day and lively after iftar.
Our tours run. The desert safari and the yachts operate, with dinners and shows scheduled after iftar; on the safari, entertainment and alcohol service may be limited or modified. On the Abu Dhabi day, refrain from eating or drinking in public out of respect for those fasting, and note that the Grand Mosque's prayer halls can be restricted during prayers. The detail — hours, etiquette, what to wear — is in Ramadan in Dubai for tourists.
Sunrise and sunset: the two times that set your day
Sunset moves from about 5:30 PM in December to about 7:10 PM in June, and sunrise from about 7 AM in January to about 5:30 AM in June, sliding gradually between. Two of our tours are built around those minutes. The balloon collects you before dawn — earlier in June than in January — and lifts off at first light. The sunset slot on the water is the one to book first whatever the month; on a winter afternoon a 2-hour charter leaving at 3:30 PM sails back through the Marina canal in the dark, which many guests prefer to the daylight return.
The desert safari times its dune bashing to end at sunset, so in December the camp evening is long and in June the drive out of the city starts later in the afternoon. For balloon cancellations and rebooking in windy weeks, see balloon season and weather; for the sea, remember that a Coast Guard weather warning moves a charter to a new route, a new date or a full refund at no charge.
FAQ
What is the best time to visit Dubai?
November to March. Days are 20-30°C, nights 14-20°C, the sea 20-24°C, and the desert safari, the sunrise balloon and the yachts all run in their best conditions; January is the coolest month. April and October are a hot but workable second choice at 30-38°C. May to September is 38-45°C and best planned around evenings on the water and in the desert.
What is the hottest month in Dubai?
July and August: 38-45°C by day, 30°C or more at night, with the humidity heaviest from July to September and the sea up to 33°C. The city keeps working — malls, hotels, the evening desert safari with air-conditioned tents and the 9 PM yacht party — but daytime sightseeing on foot is off the table.
When is the cheapest time to visit Dubai?
Summer, roughly May to September, when hotel rates usually fall furthest; the trade is 38-45°C days. The saving is on the room rather than the days out: the desert safari is from $45 with hotel pickup and the shared Marina hour from $32 whatever the month, and both run all summer with the timing built around the heat.
Does it rain in Dubai?
Rarely. Showers happen between December and March and usually pass within hours; most winter weeks are dry and clear. If the weather does turn, a Coast Guard warning moves a yacht charter to a new route, a new date or a full refund, and a balloon flight cancelled for weather gets a full refund or a new date.
Can tourists visit Dubai during Ramadan?
Yes. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year, so check the dates for your year. Tourists can eat in most restaurants in the daytime, alcohol is served in hotels usually from the evening, live music pauses and shops open later and stay open late. The desert safari and the yachts run, with dinners and shows after iftar.
When is the hot air balloon season in Dubai?
Roughly September or October to May, always at sunrise, with the winter months the clearest. Summer flights depend on the weather, so check with us for your dates. The flight lasts 40-70 minutes at 2,000-4,000 feet, the whole outing 4-5 hours with a pre-dawn pickup, and the baskets sell out 1-2 weeks ahead — earlier around Eid and in late December.
Is December a good time to visit Dubai?
Yes: 20-30°C days, cool evenings, sunset about 5:30 PM and the fullest calendar of the year — National Day on 2-3 December, Christmas and the New Year fireworks at Burj Khalifa. The last two weeks fill hotels and tours, so book the balloon and any sunset yacht slot early and bring a light jacket for the desert camp.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Sunrise Hot Air Balloon in Dubai
It is the desert from above at first light: gazelles, oryx and camels in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, the Hajar Mountains on the horizon and the dunes turning gold. After landing a vintage Land Rover or SUV takes you to a private Bedouin camp for a gourmet breakfast (veg and non-veg options), a short camel ride and a falcon photo, and every guest gets an electronic flight certificate signed by the pilot.
- Duration
- 4-5 hours
- Area
- Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Format
- Shared sunrise balloon flight with breakfast
- Best for
- couples, photographers and anyone who wants the desert at sunrise from above
From $275 per person 30% deposit
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Dubai Marina Yacht Party
It is a floating nightclub rather than a boat trip: an international crowd of 25-45 guests, a live DJ playing house, R&B and chart hits, a live BBQ from the grill and the city lights of the Palm and Burj Al Arab in the background. No assigned seats — you move between the decks — and the whole night is included in one ticket.
- Duration
- 4 hours (9 PM-1 AM)
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 21+ party cruise
- Best for
- solo travellers, couples and groups aged 21+ who want a night out on the water
$99 per person Full prepayment
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Photos: April and October — Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0, Ramadan — Poorva90, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).