Pack light, breathable clothes that cover shoulders and knees, one layer for strong air-conditioning and winter evenings of 14-20°C, a scarf, sun protection, two kinds of shoes and a Type G adapter. The mosque, the desert, a yacht and the beach each add one or two items. This guide gives the list by season and by activity, then the documents, medicines and things to leave at home.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
While you are in Dubai: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
What should I pack for Dubai?
Light cotton or linen clothes that cover shoulders and knees, one jumper or jacket for 14-20°C winter nights and strong air-conditioning, a scarf, swimwear, comfortable shoes and sandals, sun protection, a Type G adapter and your documents. Add long loose clothes if you visit a mosque.
This guide also answers:
- What do you wear in Dubai in winter?
- What do you wear in Dubai in summer?
- Do I need a plug adapter for Dubai?
What to add for five Dubai activities
#1
A mosque visit
The mosque's own guidelines ask women for loose clothing to the ankles, sleeves to the wrists and full hair coverage, and men for clothing that covers the legs, with nothing transparent, tight or sleeveless. Pack light long trousers or a long skirt, a long-sleeved top and a large scarf.
#2
A desert safari
There is no dress code in the dunes beyond comfort. Khaleej Times advises comfortable yet decent clothing and extra shawls or jackets for when the night cools. Add closed shoes or sandals you can empty, sunglasses, a hat, and a sealed bag for the phone.
#3
A yacht cruise
Shoes come off at the pier on every boat, so bring socks if you do not like bare feet. Take a jacket or pashmina for the return after sunset, an original passport or Emirates ID where the tour requires it, and swimwear only if your tour has a swim stop.
#4
A beach or pool day
Swimwear belongs on the sand and at the pool, so pack a cover-up, a T-shirt or shorts for the walk to a café or the tram. Add high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel if you do not want to rely on a hotel one, and sandals that cope with hot sand.
#5
Malls, Old Dubai and evenings out
Shoulders and knees covered is the polite standard in malls and Old Dubai, and the air-conditioning is strong. Pack a T-shirt, light long trousers or a midi skirt, a cardigan or scarf, comfortable closed shoes for walking, and one smart-casual outfit for the evening.
What to pack for Dubai: the short answer
Pack for heat outdoors and cold indoors. Days are hot in every season, and malls, the Metro and restaurants run strong air-conditioning, so a thin layer helps even in July. The polite standard in public places is shoulders and knees covered, and swimwear belongs at the beach and the pool. Everything else follows from the season and from what you plan to do.
The rest of this guide gives the list in four steps: by season, by activity, documents and health, and what to leave at home. For the detail of each setting we link the longer guides rather than repeat them.
By season: what the weather asks for
These are the typical figures we use across our guides. Dubai has a cool season, a hot season and two shoulder months, and the swing between day and evening matters in winter.
| Months | Day and night | Pack | Add |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to March | 20-30°C by day, 14-20°C at night | T-shirts, light trousers, one jumper or jacket, closed shoes | A scarf or pashmina for the desert and the water after sunset |
| April and October | 30-38°C | Light and breathable clothes, a thin layer for the air-conditioning | Hat and high-SPF sunscreen |
| May to September | 38-45°C by day, 30°C or more at night | The lightest cotton and linen you own, sandals, swimwear | A thin cardigan for indoors; sunscreen, hat and a refillable bottle |
Ramadan changes how people dress and eat in public: keep shoulders and knees covered everywhere in the daytime.
If your dates are still open, the best time to visit Dubai month by month shows how each month feels. The same sun that makes winter pleasant makes summer demanding, so even in January a hat and sunscreen belong in the bag.
By activity: what each outing adds
The table gives the single most useful item for each setting and points to the longer guide.
| Activity | The rule | Add to the bag | Longer guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosque | Checked at the door | Large scarf, long loose clothes | Grand Mosque dress code |
| Malls, souks, restaurants | Shoulders and knees covered | A cardigan or scarf, comfortable shoes | Dubai dress code for tourists |
| Desert safari | Comfort | Closed shoes or sandals you can empty, a jacket in winter | What to wear on a desert safari |
| Yacht | Shoes off | Socks, a layer, ID | What to wear and bring on a yacht |
| Beach and pool | Swimwear stays on the sand | Cover-up, towel, sun protection | Part of the dress code guide |
On a mosque day, the official guidelines of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque are the reference: loose clothing to the ankles and sleeves to the wrists for women, with full hair coverage, and clothing that covers the legs for men, avoiding anything transparent, tight or sleeveless. If you book our Abu Dhabi city tour, the guide helps with the mosque registration. For the sea, our shared yacht tour is a shoes-off, smart-casual hour, and our full-day desert safari needs only the comfort list above.
Sun and heat kit
Sun protection is the one list that does not change with the season. Dubai's sun is strong in every month, and the glare off water, sand and white marble adds to it.
- High-SPF sunscreen, applied before you leave the hotel and again after swimming or after two hours outside.
- Sunglasses that keep out glare and sand.
- A hat with a brim, which beats a cap on the dunes, the beach and the water.
- A refillable bottle for hot days. Our desert safari includes unlimited water, but a day in town does not.
- A light cotton scarf, for sun on the neck, a headscarf at a mosque and a layer in the cold air-conditioning.
- After-sun lotion, in case you burn on the first day.
Documents, money and health
Documents are the part of the packing list that cannot be bought in Dubai at the last minute. Put them in one folder, on the phone and on paper.
- Passport valid for at least six months, and a visa or entry permit if your passport needs one. Indian passport holders should check the conditions for their visa well before the trip.
- Return or onward ticket and the first hotel address, saved offline.
- One or two bank cards and a little cash in dirhams. Cards work almost everywhere, and a few hundred dirhams in small notes covers souks, tips and small stalls.
- Prescription medicines in their original packaging, with the prescription. Some medicines are controlled in the UAE, so read bringing medication to Dubai before you pack them.
- Travel insurance details and the number to call.
- Your original passport or Emirates ID for tours that ask for ID, such as the yachts and the jet ski.
Phones, chargers and the Type G adapter
Dubai uses the three-pin Type G socket at about 230 volts, according to Gulf News, so UK plugs fit and most others need an adapter. Phone, laptop and camera chargers usually accept 100-240 volts, so an adapter is enough; single-voltage hair tools may need a converter or may be better left at home. Dubai power plugs and voltage has the table by home country and where to buy one.
A small power bank belongs in the day bag. Airlines generally want power banks in hand luggage, so keep it out of the checked suitcase.
What to leave at home, and what to do with the bags
Leave at home what is not useful here. Heavy jackets, formal clothes for the day, shoes you cannot walk in, and white or suede shoes for the dunes all earn their place in the hotel wardrobe rather than the day bag.
Check the rules on drones, vapes and some medicines before you pack them, because each is controlled and can cause problems at the border. If you have a gap between checkout and your flight, luggage storage in Dubai shows where to leave the bags.
The one-page packing checklist
Copy this list the night before and tick it off:
- Four to five light tops and two or three light bottoms in cotton or linen.
- One pair of light long trousers or a maxi skirt, for the mosque, Old Dubai and cold air-conditioning.
- A scarf or pashmina that works as a headscarf, a layer and a sun cover.
- One jumper or jacket for November to March evenings.
- Walking shoes, sandals, and socks for the yacht.
- Swimwear and a cover-up.
- Hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, after-sun.
- Documents, cards, a little cash, medicines and insurance details.
- A Type G adapter, chargers and a power bank in hand luggage.
FAQ
What should I pack for Dubai?
Light cotton or linen clothes that cover shoulders and knees, one jumper or jacket for 14-20°C winter nights and strong air-conditioning, a scarf, swimwear, comfortable shoes and sandals, sun protection, a Type G adapter and your documents. Add long loose clothes if you visit a mosque.
What do you wear in Dubai in winter?
From November to March days are 20-30°C and nights 14-20°C, so wear T-shirts and light trousers by day and add a jumper, jacket or pashmina for evenings, the desert and the water after sunset. Keep sunscreen and a hat in the bag, because the sun is strong even in January.
What do you wear in Dubai in summer?
The lightest cotton and linen you own. From May to September days reach 38-45°C and nights stay at 30°C or more. Carry a thin cardigan for the air-conditioning indoors, and use a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen outside. Shoulders and knees covered remains the polite standard in public places.
Do I need to cover my shoulders and knees in Dubai?
In malls, Old Dubai, the Metro and restaurants it is the polite standard, though not usually checked at the door. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool. The mosques are different: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque asks women for loose clothing to the ankles and wrists with full hair coverage, and men for clothing that covers the legs.
What do I pack for a desert safari?
Comfortable, light clothing, closed shoes or sandals you can empty, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and a sealed bag for the phone. In winter add a jacket or shawl, because the night cools. Khaleej Times advises comfortable yet decent clothing for the desert.
Do I need a plug adapter for Dubai?
Yes, unless your plugs are British or Irish. Dubai uses the three-pin Type G socket at about 230 volts, according to Gulf News. Most phone and laptop chargers accept 100-240 volts, so an adapter alone is usually enough.
Can I bring my medicines to Dubai?
Often yes, in the original packaging with the prescription, but some medicines are controlled, so check the rules for each before you pack. Our guide to bringing medication to Dubai lists what to check and where.
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
View tour
Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour