Winter
Peak season. Warm days and cool nights. Camping, hiking, beaches and outdoor festivals. Book early.
المواسم
The UAE by season
Timing changes everything here. Use this month-by-month guide to pick your dates.
Shoulder
Hot middays, lower prices. Plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings.
Summer
Very hot and humid. Great hotel deals, indoor attractions and the coolest air up in the mountains.
Month by month
January
Weather: Coolest month. Cold nights in the desert and on Jebel Jais.
What's on: Dubai Shopping Festival usually runs into January. Desert festivals in Liwa and Al Dhafra.
February
Weather: Pleasant days, cool evenings.
What's on: Sharjah Light Festival is usually held in February. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February.
March
Weather: Warming up, still very comfortable.
What's on: Eid Al Fitr 2027 is expected around 9 or 10 March. Art and culture events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
April
Weather: Warm, getting hot by midday.
What's on: Last good month for outdoor camping. Shoulder-season prices begin.
May
Weather: Hot. Sea is warm.
What's on: Eid Al Adha 2027 is expected in mid-May. Beach days and indoor attractions.
June
Weather: Very hot, humidity rising.
What's on: Summer hotel deals start. Malls and museums come into their own.
July
Weather: Peak heat.
What's on: Summer festivals and sales. Best hotel prices of the year.
August
Weather: Peak heat and humidity.
What's on: Indoor attractions, water parks and early-morning outings only.
September
Weather: Still very hot.
What's on: Schools return and the city slowly wakes up again.
October
Weather: Cooling through the month.
What's on: Global Village and many outdoor attractions usually reopen for the season.
November
Weather: Outdoor season in full swing.
What's on: Sharjah International Book Fair, Dubai Fitness Challenge and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix usually fall around now.
December
Weather: Perfect days, cool nights.
What's on: UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on 2 December, New Year fireworks and the start of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Dates moveIslamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed by moon sighting, and many events change dates each year. Check official event sites before you book.