Dubai is a popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world with its modern architecture, luxury experiences, beaches, and shopping. However, as with any destination, there are certain times of the year that are considered the worst for visiting Dubai due to intense heat, humidity, and surging crowds and hotel prices.
June to August – Extreme Summer Heat
The summer months of June, July and August are considered the worst time to visit Dubai by many travelers. During these months, daylight temperatures routinely exceed 40°C (104°F) and with humidity, it feels even hotter.
The extremely hot and humid weather makes it difficult to spend much time outdoors sightseeing or exploring the city. While many malls, hotels and indoor attractions are air-conditioned, the heat can still be intense if you need to get around the city.
The hot summer months also see very high tourism levels, so attractions, restaurants and hotels get very crowded and expensive. Unless you are able to spend most of your time indoors in air conditioning, summer is best avoided.
Ramadan – Reduced Attractions & Disruption
Ramadan is the holy month of fasting observed by Muslims. As an Islamic society, Dubai adheres to the traditions and customs of Ramadan which can impact opening times for attractions and disruptions to daily routines.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Many restaurants and food outlets will be closed during the daytime. Hotel restaurants may serve food, but curtains will conceal dining areas. People will largely eat before sunrise or after sunset.
Work hours are often shortened and many attractions reduce their opening times or close altogether. Business meetings tend to be pushed to nighttime hours when people have more energy after breaking their fast.
As a tourist in Dubai during Ramadan, you may find limited dining options and reduced attractions and entertainment which could put a damper on your trip.
December/January – Peak Tourist Season
The holiday period in December and January sees Dubai fill up with visitors escaping the Northern Hemisphere winter. Hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to Dubai to enjoy sunny weather and New Year festivities.
Luxury hotels, attractions and entertainment venues usually charge premium pricing at this peak tourist time. Flights also tend to be considerably more expensive coming into Dubai.
Restaurants and shopping malls overflow with large tourist crowds. Major attractions have extremely long lines and waits. Traffic and congestion spike across the city.
Overall, visiting Dubai in December/January can be more expensive and crowded which detracts from enjoying everything Dubai has to offer.
Late March to Early April – Chance of Sandstorms
As the cooler winter months give way to summer in Dubai, late March to early April sees more prevalent sandstorms caused by hot winds and shifting desert sands.
While impressive to witness, the sandstorms bring air pollution and reduced visibility which hampers outdoor sightseeing and transportation around Dubai. Activities like desert safaris, outdoor markets and water parks may close during sandstorms.
Airline flight delays and traffic problems often accompany sandstorms too which can be frustrating to deal with as a tourist unfamiliar with the area.
The sandstorms tend to be intermittent but they occur frequently enough in springtime that it is a gamble visiting Dubai during this shoulder season.
Eid Holidays – Prices Surge and Availability Drops
The month-long Islamic holiday of Ramadan finishes with the Eid al-Fitr festivities. Later in the year, Eid al-Adha holiday is another important Islamic celebration period.
During the Eid holidays, hotel rates and airfares soar in Dubai, often to triple the costs compared to regular times. Luxury hotels, in particular, sell out months in advance.
Attractions and entertainment also spike their pricing due to peak domestic tourism combined with international visitors. Availability becomes extremely limited as well.
It’s best to avoid visiting Dubai during Eid periods when prices become unreasonable and availability of hotels and attractions is scarce unless booked far in advance.
So while any time can be a good time to visit Dubai, June through August summer months, December/January peak season, Ramadan period, spring sandstorm season and Eid holidays stand out as the worst times to visit Dubai for tourists. By avoiding these particular time periods, visitors can better enjoy everything impressive Dubai has to offer.