Dubai in summer: heat, closures and precautions

In Dubai, summer starts in May and lasts until September. From June to August, the average high is above 40 °C, and the average low stays above 28 °C, at around 31 °C in July and August. A holiday is perfectly possible if you adapt: outdoor activities at sunrise, days indoors or by the pool, outings in the evening. This guide gives the figures month by month, what closes, what stays open, and the precautions to take.

Temperatures, month by month

Air temperatures and rainfall are the 1991-2020 WMO (World Meteorological Organization) normals for the Dubai International Airport weather station, archived by the US agency NOAA; sea temperatures are a ten-year average.

Three periods stand out:

• November to March, the high season: 24 to 31 °C by day, with cool nights in January and February;
• April, May and October, the shoulder months: already above 33 °C in the afternoon, but bearable mornings and evenings, and an ideal sea;
• June to September, summer: above 39 °C every day on average, and heat that does not ease at night.

What the heat means in practice

Nights bring no relief. In July and August the average low is above 31 °C: going out after sunset, around 7 pm local time, gets you out of the sun but not out of the heat.

The sea no longer cools you down. It is above 32 °C from June to September. Swim early in the morning or after dark, on the lit and patrolled night-swimming beaches; our guide to Dubai's beaches lists them.

Avoid the middle of the day. The UAE authorities give a clear signal: every summer, outdoor work in direct sun is banned from 12.30 pm to 3 pm, local time, from 15 June to 15 September. Visitors would do well to follow the same rhythm.

Everything is air-conditioned. The metro, taxis, malls, hotels and restaurants are cooled, sometimes heavily: a light jumper is useful indoors.

What closes in summer

Several large outdoor attractions close for the hot season, usually from May to October:

• Global Village, the park of world pavilions, closed its 30th season in early May 2026 and reopened on 14 October; season 31 runs until May 2027. See Global Village.
• Dubai Miracle Garden, the flower garden, closes in summer; its 15th season runs from 8 October 2026 to 31 May 2027.
• Dubai Safari Park reopened on 12 October 2026 for its new season.
• The Dubai Parks and Resorts theme parks reopened on 7 October 2026. See our theme parks page.
• In Hatta, in the mountains, some outdoor activities close or cut their hours from May to October; check before you go. See our page on Hatta.
• The desert remains open, with safaris early in the morning or in the evening. See our page on the Dubai desert.

What stays open and enjoyable

• The malls, led by Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, with their shops, restaurants and indoor attractions. Dubai Butterfly Garden, the butterfly house next to the Miracle Garden, stays open in summer.
• Beach hotels and their pools, for the mornings, and spas. See our spa page.
• Indoor sights: the Burj Khalifa observation decks, Dubai Frame and the Dubai Mall aquarium. The Museum of the Future is closed, with reopening announced for the first quarter of 2027.
• Dubai Summer Surprises, the summer festival of sales and indoor family entertainment run by DFRE (Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, the city's festivals and retail agency): from 2 July to 30 August in 2026. The 2027 dates have not yet been announced.

Precautions

• Plan outings before 10 am and after sunset, and keep the middle of the day for indoor activities.
• Drink regularly, before you feel thirsty, and carry water on every outing. During Ramadan, drink out of public view: see our guide to Ramadan in Dubai.
• Protect yourself from the sun: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and light, covering clothes, which also suit local dress customs.
• Take a taxi rather than walk, even a short way: a fifteen-minute walk between metro stations in the afternoon is exhausting.
• With children or older travellers, keep days short and plan breaks at the hotel.
• For the desert, go with a reputable operator, in the cooler hours, with plenty of water.

Prices and visitor numbers in summer

Summer is the low season for European visitors. In 2025, according to figures from Dubai's tourism department, visitors from Western Europe were roughly half as numerous from June to September as from October to April.

Room prices follow demand: December 2025 was the most expensive month of the year, with an average rate per room sold of about AED 1,040 a night, according to the hotel research firm CoStar. The average is lower the rest of the year, and summer, the quiet season for European visitors, lends itself to good deals; compare dates when booking, as rates vary from week to week. Prices for hotels in Sabaro's selection are shown on each hotel page, with a note on any tourism tax.

Should you go to Dubai in summer?

For a first trip, Sabaro recommends October to April, when the city can be enjoyed outdoors too: souks, the Creek, the desert, beach days. Summer suits a hotel-and-pool stay, a short stopover, or travellers who cope well with heat and want a grand hotel at a better price. May and October are a good compromise, with a very warm sea and pleasant evenings.