The best time
to visit Dubai

The comfortable season, November to March. This is when most visitors come, and they are right to. You can walk at midday, sit outside in the evening, and combine desert, beach and parks in a single day. Every seasonal attraction is open. It is also the busiest stretch of the year, especially around the end of December.

The shoulder months, October and April to May. Hot in the middle of the day, but mornings and evenings are still pleasant. Seasonal attractions open in October and some begin closing in May. Plan outdoor activity around the right hours and these months work very well.

Summer, June to September. Very hot, including at night. This is a different kind of holiday: a hotel with a good pool, water parks, malls and indoor attractions. Many families choose it because of the school break, and it works if you accept its rhythm.

If this is a first visit and you want to see the city properly on foot, aim for the comfortable season and book early — hotels fill and prices climb from December.

If you are travelling with small children, or your main plan is a resort with a pool and a water park, summer is far less of a compromise than it sounds and costs noticeably less.

Tell us roughly when you are thinking of coming and what you want the trip to feel like, and we will tell you honestly whether those dates serve it.